"This is perfect," I muttered in satisfaction.
I, Liam, nodded in satisfaction as I stood in front of an abandoned factory building outside of New York. It was a three-story concrete building near the Hudson Mountains, backed by steep cliffs and surrounded by trees. Best of all, it had a basement.
My past life has taught me that a location like this has the advantage of independence in the early days of a post-apocalyptic world: it's easy to defend, hard to attack, far away from the crowds, and easy to escape. And a basement is perfect for storing supplies.
"Are you sure about this?" Mr. Thompson asked with a frown, the thick contract still in his hand, "It's very isolated, and the building hasn't been used in years..."
"I'll take it," I said, pulling out a wad of cash, 'six months' rent, and I'll sign the contract now."
Time was running out. I had to finish all the preparations in two days.
After sending away the puzzled broker, I immediately opened the system panel.
[Current Points: 50
Available Functions: 1.
1. Early warning system (can predict danger within 24 hours)
2. Mall system (to be unlocked)
3. Mission Tracking]
"Early warning system, detecting safety hazards in the community."
[Detecting...
No direct threats within a 3-kilometer radius.
Potential threat alert.
1. 2.8 kilometers northwest is St. Mary's Abandoned Hospital, which will become a gathering place for ghouls in the event of a disaster.
2.8 kilometers southeast is a National Guard base that will be on lockdown when the outbreak is over.
Good. This information matches my memories of my past life. When the time comes, this military base will be the first to take action, accelerating the spread of the virus. And the abandoned hospital will give birth to the first Awakening Stones.
I took out my cell phone and transferred $50,000 to Jack Morrison, one of my most trusted comrades, now a retired Navy SEAL running a private security firm in Brooklyn. When disaster strikes, he can use the money and the information that comes with it to get to the scene first.
The next step is to stockpile supplies. Based on my past life experiences, I've come up with a detailed list.
1. food.
- 100 cases of U.S. military MRE combat rations.
- 200 cases of Evian water.
- 50 cases of military canned goods.
- Ensure nutritional supplements 20 cases
2. Medical supplies.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Medical bandages
- Surgical kits
- Sterilization supplies
3. Equipment.
- Military Specification Biochemical Protective Clothing
- 3M Gas Mask
- Nightcrawler
- Motorola explosion-proof walkie-talkie
- Honda portable generator
4.Weapons.
- Remington shotgun (legally registered)
- Hunting Ammunition
- Ka-Bar Tactical Knife
- Self-defense equipment.
"Ding! Host's careful planning detected, 100 points awarded."
"Special note: The host city will experience its first outbreak in 47 hours."
I look at the time, it's 3:00 pm. I had to hurry.
Driving to the Cabela's Outdoor Store chain, I grabbed a cart full of gear. Brad McCallen, the store owner, saw my list and his eyes went wide.
"Preparing for the end of the world?" He asked, half-jokingly.
I laughed, "You have no idea."
After the equipment arrived at the factory, I began laying out the defenses. My previous experience had taught me that the first 72 hours were crucial. Those who are well prepared are more likely to survive the chaos.
In the evening, I stood on the top floor of the factory and looked out over the Manhattan skyline. The lights were on, and everything seemed so peaceful. No one knew that this could be their last peaceful night.
The cell phone vibrated and a news item appeared on the screen.
"TEC shares plummet 15% after emergency board meeting, CEO urges public to remain calm..."
I sneered. In my last life, I was working overtime at a Wall Street investment bank, oblivious to my impending doom. In this life, I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
As night fell, I began setting up a simple lab in the basement. My experience in my previous life had taught me that Awakening Stones require special preservation conditions. Especially for those high grade stones, the slightest mistake will cause them to lose their activity.
Suddenly, the system beeped.
"Ding! Emergency mission triggered.
Complete doomsday preparations within 48 hours. Reward.
1. Early warning range extended to 10 kilometers.
2.500 points.
3. Mall system unlocked in advance."
I took a deep breath and continued to work. Time was running out, but I knew better than anyone what would happen next. This time, I must win at the starting line.
Tomorrow is the last day before the end of the world. And I'm ready for disaster.