On the seventh day, Li Wei and Wang decided to spend their final day in the villa. soaking in the last moment of peace on the island.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the water, their private chef prepared a lavish dinner for them. The meal was a masterpiece - succulent lobster, tender steak, and one of the finest wines.
After dinner, they relaxed on the villa terrace watching the stars slowly appear in the night sky.
On the morning of their departure, Li Wei and WAng packed their bags. The calm and serenity of the island served its purpose but now they needed to leave.
After a final breakfast, they left the villa and were escorted to the airport by the same resort staff who had welcomed them with open arms a week ago.
Their return flight was smooth but the atmosphere between them had shifted.
Once back on the mainland, they immediately drove to the construction site to inspect the progress of the stronghold. As they arrived, Li Wei saw that Manager Zhen had stayed true to his word. The stronghold outer structure was nearly completed with reinforced walls and an advanced security system already in place.
Workers were busy installing the heavy steel doors and finalizing the underground sections, ensuring the stronghold was impenetrable.
Li Wei walked around with Manager Zhen and he asked "When will it be complete ?"
"On schedule sir," Zhen replied confidently. "We should be finished with everything by the 25th"
Satisfied with the progress, Li Wei nodded and said "Good. I expect nothing less"
Time passed by instance as Li Wei retired on December 25, 2024, he was greeted by the sight of his fully completed stronghold.
The imposing structure stood tall surrounded by reinforced walls and an air of impregnable security. It was everything he had envisioned and more as he stepped inside, Manager Zhen met him at the entrance, eager to give a final update.
"Welcome back, Mr.Li" manager Zhen said, gesturing around proudly. "The stronghold is completed as per your request we've begun to stocking the remaining food and supplies. We'll finish storing everything by tomorrow"
Li Wei nodded in approval, walking slowly through the corridors, taking in the fortress that would soon be his home.
"It looks perfect, Manager Zhen I appreciate the effort" Manager Zhen smiled and said with professionalism "It's been an honor, sir. we've also secured all the outer defenses and installed the additional security measure you asked for"
After a moment of thought Li Wei stopped and turned to Manager Zhen, "There's one more thing I need from you, Manager Zhen"
"od course, what do you require ?"
"Outside the stronghold, I want a few simple tents built. Nothing elaborate just enough to look like temporary shelters"
Manager Zhen raised an eyebrow, curious but nodding. "That can be done sir what else do you want to do ?"
After some thought Li Wei said "At the center, I want you to build a hidden structure" Li Wei said with lowering his voice "It has to be concealed something no one else should know about the must be located just outside the stronghold door but remain out of sight only accessible to me"
Manager Zhen's interest was piqued as he said "What exactly are we talking about?"
"What I want to say this that from outside the only visible part should be five numbered taps. that can provide water in need but no one can know where it's coming from. The structure beneath must be completely hidden and secure"
Zhen took a moment to understand what Li Wei wanted to build and after some time he said "I understand, we'll construct the tents and ensure that this stronghold doesn't get exposed and remains secret"
After speaking with the Manager Zhen Li Wei and Wang left.
As Wang drove the car away from the stronghold, Li Wei leaned back in his seat.
He turned to Wang and said "Wang, I need you to contact the manager of Walmart immediately and all the major stores" he said, "I want you to purchase every bit of spices and salt they have in stock."
"After getting them make sure that you personally have them stored In the stronghold as soon as possible, We need those to last us for a long time"
Wang nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary arrangement.
Li Wei continued "Also I want you t start searching for a chef," he added "Someone who can cook with anything we gave him- rice, corn, whatever basic crops we grow. it doesn't matter what we have, he needs to be able to make something edible out of it."
Wang gave a small smile. "A survival chef? young master ?"
"Exactly" Li Wei responded "We won't have the luxury of fancy meals after one or two months but after that, we need someone who can cook what we grow and make something edible out of it to stay strong"
"I'll take care of it, young master," Wang said.
One day before the apocalypse. Li Wei and Wang stood at the entrance of the stronghold, surveying the area with a mixture of satisfaction.
The past few days had been a whirlwind of final preparations. Wang had successfully made deals with all the major stores and ensured that they had enough supplies to last for years if not decades.
Payments had been made to everyone, including the construction workers and suppliers. Now, all that was left was to move into the stronghold and wait for the apocalypse to come.
The outside of the stronghold was disguised. tents and simple structures had been erected, giving the appearance of a refugee camp or a cult base.
No one would ever guess that beneath the surface lay an immense underground fortress, reinforced and stocked with everything Li Wei had stocked.
The stronghold was hidden, just as they wanted to be in the chaos that was about to engulf the world remaining hidden underground would be the greatest advantage.
Wang stood beside Li Wei and said "Shall I give you the tour of the stronghold young master?"
Li Wei nodded with a feeling of anticipation and said "Yes let's do it I want to see what we have"
As they walked towards the entrance, Wang activated the secure door, which slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a well-it corridor. The walls were reinforced with steel and bright LED lights illuminated the path ahead.
As Li Wei and Wang move deeper into the stronghold they entered the sleeping quarters a colossal expanse filled with rows upon rows of bunk beds.
A thousand beds were lined the wall each equipped with sturdy mattresses and a storage compartment underneath for personal belongings.
Moving on, they came to the water management system, Large tanks lined the walls filled with clean and filtered water ready to use.
Each tank was coated with specialized materials designed to reflect heat and prevent evaporation.
Additionally, cleverly designed access points allowed Li Wei to utilize his skill effectively to generate water and fill the tanks.
This made the stronghold self-sufficient as Li Wei could maintain the water supply.
The stronghold was powered entirely by an electric supply system. Solar panels were installed on the surface but hidden from the ground, capturing and converting it into electricity to sustain the stronghold's needs.
Further along the corridor, Li Wei saw the storage area, a vast expanse filled with shelves and bins stocked with supplies. canned food dried food and other essentials.
Wang looking at the shelves said to Li Wei "This is all the supplies we have and it can ensure our survival for at least a decade" A moment later he said "it's just that we have to learn how to cook"
Li Wei laughed and said "No need Wang just wait a month someone will come with great cooking skills so don't worry"
They continued their tour As they walked they reached the medical rooms where the room was filled with beds medical supplies and advanced equipment.
All are organized to provide care for injuries and illnesses. The walls were adorned with guides for first aid and medical procedures ensuring that even in the absence of trained personnel anyone could provide basic care.
Finally, Li Wei and Wang descended to the ground floor, where they discovered the crown jewel of the stronghold. the massive farm that sprawled across the entire level.
The moment Li Wei saw the farming area his system made a moment and the next moment system notification came.
As Li Wei opened his system panel he saw:
[Farming Area has been detected Would the host like to link it ?]
His heart raced with excitement. This was something he didn't expect but the opportunity to maximize the potential of the farm came to him. He didn't even need to consider anything as he clicked on YES.
[Linking process initiated...]
[Establishing connection to the farming area...]
[Connection successful! The farming area is now Linked with the host's system.]