Chapter 4 Drain Them Dry

That afternoon, Theresa emerged from an aging office building in the heart of the city. As she walked out, her bank account reflected an additional 1.5 million. These small lending companies were more bloodthirsty than any vampire. She had sold her property to Oliver's family for two million, but this loan shark of a company only handed her a mere 1.5 million. To make matters worse, the interest rate was astronomical. She had agreed to a loan with a seven-day deadline for repayment. Within a week, she was supposed to return two million, or they would seize the house. It was a scheme designed to bleed her dry and steal her property! But it didn't faze her, because she had no intention of paying them back! And as for the house? It was already out of my hands! The loan's twelve-day term was timed perfectly, falling just before the onset of the apocalypse. As the deadline approached, the lending company would inevitably turn its focus to Oliver's family. At that point, the two sides would be at each other's throats in a brutal showdown! It was uncertain who would prevail, but one thing was for sure—that house would crumble into nothing. Now, with an additional 1.5 million in her account, Theresa gazed at the funds deposited by the loan company. An idea sparked in her mind, and she proceeded to take advantage of every available lending platform on the market! I'm going to drain them dry! I'm taking it all with ruthless determination! After completing the transactions, her balance had increased by an additional 500,000. Now, with a total of 3.7 million at her disposal, she was ready to make another round of purchases. With her funds topped up, her first stop was a construction materials factory to continue strengthening her safe haven. She purchased around forty to fifty surveillance cameras and then sought out a supplier for generators. A reliable power source was essential. Generators come in four types: wind, water, thermal, and diesel. The first three were impractical—they were complicated to install, requiring significant time and effort, and mostly unavailable off the shelf, requiring custom orders from specialized manufacturers. Diesel, however, was the most practical option. The seller asked, "What size generator are you interested in?" Theresa inquired, "What are the options?" The seller responded, "We have models ranging from thirty and fifty kilowatts to two hundred and eight hundred kilowatts. Anything over a thousand is more expensive. The higher the capacity, the pricier they get." She quickly gauged the price range for diesel generators. The smallest option, at thirty kilowatts, typically cost between ten to twenty thousand. Mid-range models, like the two hundred kilowatt ones, were priced between fifty thousand and a hundred thousand. For a three hundred kilowatt unit, prices started above one hundred thousand, and the cost increased exponentially as the wattage went up. Generators above a thousand kilowatts were priced from a million upwards, and imported models were even pricier, often 20 to 30% higher than their domestic equivalents. "Just go for a domestic model," the shopkeeper suggested. "Our local ones are just as reliable, if not better than the imported ones. They're more robust, and practical, and don't have the diesel compatibility issues that the foreign models do. What are you planning to use it for? Running a restaurant?" Theresa confirmed, "Exactly." She needed a reliable power source to keep the bunker lit and to support restaurant-level usage. While a standard model would do, she opted for the most powerful and expensive model instead. My system's rewards will scale with my progress, so why settle for less? "Give me the best one, no cutting corners! Money's no concern!" she boldly declared, looking every bit like the wealthy buyer as she purchased the highest-value, top-tier generator for 1.2 million from his shop. The shopkeeper was practically beaming at the sight of her confidence. She made a request for more items, asking the shopkeeper to throw in everything from soundproof padding to tool kits and small miscellaneous goods. She wasn't interested in leaving anything behind, no matter how trivial. The shopkeeper, without a second thought, even threw in the last ten liters of diesel in stock. When Theresa noticed the diesel, her expression brightened. "Boss, do you happen to have any connections for buying fuel at a cheaper rate?" Fuel was notoriously difficult to acquire. Every time she went to a gas station, she had to register with her ID, and they only allowed small purchases—usually just a few liters at a time. Many stations even refused to sell it in loose form, only offering it for vehicle refills. However, sellers of generators often had their own network. There was an underground market for fuel, where illicit operations secretly obtained it—either stolen from large fields or gathered from dubious offshore sources—and sold it without any official oversight. This was the type of "black fuel" she was hoping to get her hands on. As soon as she finished speaking, the shopkeeper's face took on a knowing, secretive look. He gestured for her to step aside and handed her a card. "If you need more fuel, give this number a call. Mention my name, and they'll give you a 20% discount. It's cheaper than what you'd find anywhere else!" She accepted the card. "Appreciate it." It was clear that people in related industries often had their own networks to rely on. As she made her way out, the shopkeeper muttered, "With the flu spreading like wildfire lately, business is really slow these days." She responded absentmindedly, quickening her pace to exit the shop, "Yeah." She didn't elaborate. The flu outbreak wasn't just an ordinary epidemic; it was the harbinger of the apocalypse. Just two weeks after the virus had begun to spread, those who caught it began to die off. But the real horror came when, before anyone could fully process the loss, they discovered that the dead had somehow returned. However, their return wasn't a miracle—it was the dawn of something much darker—zombies! In her previous life, Theresa had been entirely absorbed in the preparations for Oliver's wedding. During this period, his wife had discovered she was pregnant. Theresa had been running errands for them, buying new furniture, and overseeing renovations, all while helping her sister-in-law with hospital visits. On the fateful day the apocalypse began, she was at the hospital with her sister-in-law to pick up some reports when the first horrifying screams filled the air. What happened next was a nightmare she would never forget—a patient, who had been declared dead, suddenly jerked to life. As he was being wheeled into emergency care, he sat up abruptly and began savagely attacking the family members around him. A desperate struggle ensued, but she watched in disbelief as the first person bitten began to convulse. When he finally stood, his body was pale and devoid of life. His eyes had turned an unnatural, ghastly gray, resembling the soulless stare of a zombie from a horror movie—no pupils, no spark of life, only an eerie, bloodthirsty gleam! With a terrifying snarl, he lunged at the people who had tried to help him, sinking his teeth into their flesh. The entire hospital descended into chaos. And it wasn't an isolated incident—similar horrors were unfolding in every corner of the building. Anyone who was bitten would undergo a grotesque transformation within five minutes, joining the growing horde in tearing others apart! At that moment, Theresa was gripped by fear, but her instincts kicked in. Her primary focus was on her pregnant sister-in-law. With a calm and composed demeanor, she grabbed a weapon and fought off the oncoming zombies, shielding her sister-in-law as they navigated the madness and escaped the hospital. Her actions that day left a lasting impression on the Hall family, who quickly began to view her as the dependable one! From that point forward, she was tasked with everything—gathering supplies, safeguarding the group—she was the one always at the forefront! In her previous life, she found fulfillment in being their protector, in being the one they turned to in times of crisis. But now, she saw the truth. It wasn't about protecting family anymore—it was about being used as a pawn by selfish, thoughtless individuals! This time, I'll not fall into that trap again. No more playing the fool! Theresa arranged for the boss to have everything delivered to the warehouse and, while en route, made a call to inquire about the diesel situation. The supplier confirmed they could handle the delivery, and it would arrive by tomorrow. Without any hesitation, she ordered all the diesel they had in stock, and she made it clear that she wasn't interested in anything less. Thus, she ended up making a bulk purchase worth a million! With a generous 25% discount, she spent close to two million in just one outing today.