Chapter 11 The Safe House Completed

Three days later, Kenneth, with Warren’s connections, managed to secure two guns and a hundred rounds of ammunition. Although the price was steep, Kenneth didn’t mind at all. With these solid weapons in his hands, he felt more confident about his safety in the apocalypse. He also completed a trade with Skyler for essential medications, obtaining two boxes of high-grade imported drugs. Another week passed. Warren called Kenneth to inform him that the safe house was ready as per his specifications and asked him to inspect it. Kenneth finally left the hotel where he had been staying for a while and drove back to the Osvaria Residence. Warren personally accompanied him to inspect the safe house. When Kenneth stepped inside his home, he couldn’t help but be impressed. ValorGuard Security truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier domestic security firm. He thought, admiring the speed and quality of their work. The entire house had been reinforced with a 4-inch thick steel plates, just as Kenneth requested. From the outside, however, it looked no different than before. Warren patiently explained everything to Kenneth. “The ventilation system uses military-grade technology. It can filter out any harmful gases, ensuring no external toxic attacks can breach the system. We’ve also completely overhauled the heating system. It’s now made with professional-grade materials from the Arctic Research Institute. Besides the fireplace you requested, the insulation prevents 99.5% of heat loss.” Warren smiled mysteriously and continued, “For your safety, we installed a surveillance system across the entire building. With 300 cameras, you can monitor every floor of the building.” Kenneth was left speechless with astonishment. He could only marvel at how money could indeed buy services beyond the reach of ordinary people. On the balcony, Kenneth noticed it had been transformed into a giant floor-to-ceiling window. Warren explained, “The material is bulletproof and explosion-resistant, even sturdier than 4-inch steel plates. It allows for better lighting and external observation as well.” Kenneth was thoroughly satisfied with the safe house. He felt confident that, short of an armed military force with heavy weapons, no one could forcibly enter his home. Even if the entire building collapsed, his room would likely remain intact. “I’m very pleased with the safe house you’ve built,” Kenneth said to Warren with a smile. Warren grinned back, handing Kenneth some documents. “If there are no issues, please settle the balance within three months.” Kenneth nodded with a smile. “Of course!” But deep down, he knew he wouldn’t be paying the balance. The thought of securing a nearly ten-million-dollar safe house for just a hundred-thousand-dollar deposit filled him with delight. Lying on the sofa, Kenneth admired his nearly perfect safe house. Yet, after some thought, he realized he had overlooked something crucial—the source of life itself! He slapped his forehead. How could I forget something as vital as water? During the impending Ice Age, while it might be possible to gather water by breaking ice, the outside temperatures would drop to around minus 149°F. Going out would pose significant dangers. Kenneth couldn’t tolerate such a glaring flaw in his safe house. After considering his options, he ordered a hundred large water storage barrels through an online delivery platform. These barrels could store up to 17000 cubic feet of water, enough to last him for years. He also planned to retrieve bottled water from his warehouse later, solving the water issue completely. The delivery speed was impressive. Within hours, the barrels arrived at Kenneth’s door. He went to the community gate and asked the security guard, Raiden, to let the deliveryman through. Seeing Kenneth order such peculiar items again, the neighbors began gossiping. “What’s wrong with Kenneth? Does he have some sort of issue?” “Exactly! He keeps buying all these strange things.” “I saw people carrying at least 4-inch thick steel plates into his house during renovations the other day.” “Maybe he’s gone mad, trying to build some kind of safe house like in the movies! Now he’s buying so many water barrels. Does he think Valkyrean is going to run out of water? Ridiculous!” Kenneth ignored their mocking remarks. He simply sneered inwardly. When the Ice Age arrives, you’ll all realize how foolish you are now. Kenneth had no interest in explaining himself to them. They would only think of him as a fool, dismissing any warnings he gave. Worse, they might accuse him of spreading rumors and disturbing public order, leading to his arrest. Raiden, who was chatting with Dorian at the gate, approached Kenneth warmly. “Kenneth, why do you need so many water barrels? If you need help, just let me know, and I’ll lend a hand.” Kenneth felt a pang of emotion for Raiden. A retired soldier with no family, Raiden had been a dedicated security guard in the community for over a decade. In his past life, Raiden had died of starvation after giving his last bit of food to a starving mother and her child—a rare beacon of humanity in the apocalypse. Kenneth said, “Raiden, the weather has been unusual this year. I have insider information that this winter will be harsh. Just to be safe, you should stock up on food and water too, in case prices surge later.” Raiden, who had a good relationship with Kenneth, trusted him. Older people often had a heightened sense of caution, and Raiden frowned deeply. “Kenneth, are you serious? Is this reliable?” Kenneth nodded. “Look at all the supplies I’ve prepared. Stock up on instant noodles and bottled water. These things won’t go bad, even if you buy extra.” Raiden nodded. Living alone, he already liked to keep instant noodles and sausages for convenience. After Kenneth’s reminder, he decided to buy more, if only for peace of mind. However, Dorian overheard the conversation and approached Kenneth. “Kenneth, you really shouldn’t spread this kind of talk. Our society is stable and prosperous. There’s no shortage of resources. If you keep saying things like this, someone might report you for spreading rumors, and you could get into trouble.” Kenneth rolled his eyes and didn’t bother responding. He had already given his warnings. Whether they believed him or not was their choice.