Chapter 2


    After paying the deposit, Ste dashed to thergest outdoor supply store in downtown.


    Two intable rafts, four rubber dinghies, earthquake and fire emergency kits, tents, fire axes,


    climbing ropes, telescopes, radios, waterproof shlights, ultrarge capacity sr chargers, and


    so on.


    She couldn''t skimp on survival supplies; they all had to be of good quality.


    Seeing a major customer, the store owner enthusiastically rmended storm jackets and


    sleeping bags, "There''s a store-wide discount today, and the quality is guaranteed to satisfy you."


    Ste looked unimpressed, "Do you have anything that can withstand minus sixty or seventy


    degrees?"


    The store owner was shocked, "This is the south; you can wear short sleeves in the winter."


    "I''m going to the Arctic for research soon."


    Realizing she wasn''t joking, the store owner immediately contacted colleagues, telling Ste: "We


    have pr cold-weather gear and mummy sleeping bags. Used together, they can definitely


    withstand the cold, but they are expensive and located out of state."


    Online reviews seemed good, and the store could send them express, promising they''d arrive by


    tomorrow afternoon. Ste bought two sets of each, spending over six thousand dors.


    She spent another twelve grand at the outdoor supply store, hauling a truckload of goods, and


    secretly stowed them in her Arcadia when no one was looking.


    The intable rafts needed diesel, but diesel wasn''t sold to individuals. Ste went to the auto repair


    shop to buy an oil extractor and barrels, filled her car at several gas stations nearby, then drove to a


    secluded area without cameras to extract the fuel into the barrels. After several trips, she amassed


    500L of gasoline.


    The end of the world was chaotic, with all sorts of violent incidents, so she went to a gun store. The


    owner brought out his top-of-the-line products. Grabbing three sets of anti-stab suits, and two sets


    of bulletproof vests, Ste, without pausing for breath, drove to thergest clothing wholesale


    market on the outskirts.


    Down jackets, military coats, cashmere sweaters, thermal underwear, scarves, gloves, socks, snow


    boots, lightweight sneakers, warm shoes, and slippers. She bought everything she could think of


    and might need, not caring about brands, just quality.


    She splurged twelve thousand dors at the clothing wholesale market, then rushed to the


    neighboring daily necessities wholesale store.


    Air conditioning nkets, down quilts, especially cotton quilts, she ordered three of each, all packed


    inpression bags.


    Shampoo, shower gel,undry detergent, tampons, tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, thermos


    sks, lighters, hot water bottles, and so on. She bought 20,000 hand warmers alone, life-savers in


    extreme cold.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She found some rare items online, ss kerosenemps, and windproof waterproofnterns,


    antiques from the 60s and 70s. She bought five of each, "Do you have kerosene?"


    They did, but it wasn''t a hot seller. The store only had 100L in stock. Ste bought it all, asking the


    store owner to deliver wick for themps. They were much more durable than candles.


    Alcohol stoves, fuel blocks, portable gas stoves... Thinking of the electricity in Arcadia, she also


    took a few induction cookers.


    Insecticides, disinfectants, drinking water purification tablets, mosquito repellent, etc. She bought


    anything she could think of, for a total of twenty thousand dors.


    Next to it was the fruit wholesale market, apples, pears, watermelons, kiwis, bananas, melons,


    starfruit, ckberries, grapes, and so on. She spent another six thousand dors on about twenty


    kinds of fruit.


    When she left the wholesale market, it was already dark. Several missed calls were all from Cody,


    leaving a message on WhatsApp saying the goods were ready. Ste drove to hispany, and


    there were over twentyrge boxes of goods, including antibiotics, anti-inmmatory drugs, iodine,


    gauze, even tetanus vines. These were all lifesavers in a disaster; although she spent more than


    forty thousand dors, it eased Ste''s anxiety somewhat.


    Cody transferred her two thousand dors as amission, "You asked for too many


    misceneous items. Many drugs aren''t avable, and I had to get them from colleagues."


    "I''ll deliver the goods first, and I''ll treat you to a big meal in a few days." Sitting in the driver''s seat,


    Ste reminded him, "A strong typhoon ising. You should stock up on food and oil at home."


    Cody, however, didn''t take it to heart. There were already more than a dozen typhoons this year, all


    of which were more bark than bite.


    After storing the medicine in the Arcadia, Ste went to the food street near the university town,


    ordering barbecue, beer, and fried chicken.


    The food street was bustling, full of young students and couples, their youthful faces full of vitality,


    oblivious to the impending disaster.


    The barbecue took a while to cook, and Ste was attracted to the glowing charcoal. Indeed, in the


    hustle and bustle, she almost forgot the most important thing. She immediately asked the owner for


    the contact information of the charcoal, coal balls, and liquid gas sellers. She called each one,


    asking them to deliver the goods tomorrow.


    Unfortunately, luck wasn''t on her side. These stores were in low-lying areas, and the government


    ordered them to move their goods. They had no time these two days. All three stores were in the


    same area, and Ste didn''t even have time to eat her barbecue, driving over immediately.


    Charcoal was cheap but took up a lot of space. Ste checked Arcadia and only bought five


    hundred pounds of smoke-free high-temperature charcoal, plus charcoal stoves and ignition aids.


    One bottle of liquefied gas couldst two months, so she bought ten in case Arcadia lost power.


    Honeb coal was durable, but this year there was a nationwide power shortage, coal prices


    skyrocketed, a coal ball cost two dors. She gritted her teeth and bought two thousand.


    When she got back to her apartment it was nearly nine o''clock, Ste took a short break and went


    into the Arcadia to organize the chaotic supplies. To save as much space in the Arcadia as possible,


    the liquid gas bottles, coal balls, and charcoal were all piled in the kitchen. She removed all


    unnecessary packaging from the supplies, packed fluffy items inpression bags, and stacked


    themyer byyer to the ceiling.


    She spent over twelve thousand dors in the day, just enough to fill the small room and kitchen,


    estimated to take up about fifty cubic feet.


    Just as she finished, she was suddenly kicked out, and fell out of the Arcadia. Stunned, Ste tried


    to get back in, but an invisible barrier blocked her.


    Damn, the Arcadia swallowed all her supplies!