Chapter 42
At last, Leonard understood why Suzy had been acting so secretive these past few weeks.
There was no point in hiding it anymore, so she nodded honestly.
"I understand," Leonard said after a moment. "I’ll start making preparations as soon as possible."
Then, after a brief hesitation, he couldn’t help asking, "Later on... will proper order ever be restored?"
Suzy held his gaze. "No."
Leonard let out a long, quiet sigh.
She didn’t add anything more. She knew her uncle well—once he made up his mind, he would act decisively.
But there was something else she needed from him.
"Uncle, there’s another matter I need your help with."
He turned back to her. "Go on."
Suzy opened her handbag and took out a thick document envelope. "These are records of George’s business irregularities over the years. Mom left them to me."
At the mention of her mother, Elisabeth, Leonard’s expression flickered. For a brief second, he looked distant—like he had stepped back into a memory he would rather not revisit.
He accepted the envelope, and instantly understood what she intended.
"You want to go after George."
She nodded. "He called me today."
She recounted the entire conversation. By the time she finished, Leonard’s jaw had tightened, anger flashing across his face.
"Don’t worry," he said firmly. "I’ll handle it."
He moved quickly—pulling out his phone, calling his assistant, issuing instructions in a low, controlled voice.
Suzy didn’t know exactly what arrangements were being made, but when Leonard looked at her again, there was a faint, cold smile on his lips.
"Rest assured," he said. "He won’t have the time or energy to bother you for quite a while."
Relief spread across her face. That was exactly what she wanted.
After a pause, Leonard added, "Do you have enough money? Should I transfer some to you?"
She shook her head.
"I still have enough. But... there are some things I can’t get on my own. Do you have channels for them?"
"What things?"
"Energy supplies," she said steadily. "And weapons."
Leonard fell silent for a few seconds.
Those were not items one could purchase freely in their country—not in bulk, not without attracting unwanted attention from higher authorities.
Even with connections, it would require careful maneuvering.
"Leave that to me," he said at last. "I’ll figure something out."
"Okay. Thank you." Then she added, "Uncle, after some time... come back to A City with me. I’ve already arranged for someone to build a secure shelter in advance."
He didn’t answer immediately.
"I’ll think about it."
She didn’t press him.
There were still over two months left. And she believed he would never leave her alone in A City.
They continued discussing supply plans late into the night.
Eventually, Leonard urged her upstairs to rest.
She still had another full day of stockpiling ahead. After a quick shower, she went to bed early.
***
Leonard, however, couldn’t sleep. He went into his study and sat alone in the dim light, Suzy’s words echoing in his mind.
He believed her completely now.
Without hesitation, he opened his laptop and began drafting his own supply list. Then, he pulled up his financial portfolio, reviewing every asset under his name.
One by one, he started planning liquidation.
If the world were truly heading toward collapse, liquidity meant nothing.
Real resources did.
He thought of what Suzy had mentioned—energy, weapons.
After a moment’s thought, he picked up his phone and contacted an old university classmate who had settled overseas.
There was a time difference.
It was daytime in M Country.
The reply came quickly.
When the other party learned Leonard wanted access to weapons, he was stunned.
Seconds later, his phone rang.
"If you were here in M Country, I’d have a few connections," the man on the other end said bluntly. "But how exactly are you planning to ship that back?"
The question stopped Leonard cold. Yes—he could purchase the weapons.
But transporting them across borders? In large quantities? And energy supplies on top of that?
That was an entirely different matter. Leonard had to abandon the idea for now.
He might have influence in C City, but he wasn’t powerful enough to move heaven and earth.
His classmate, who was well-versed in firearms, continued the conversation and instead recommended several types of equipment that could be acquired domestically.
They talked until late into the night.
By the time Leonard hung up, a preliminary plan had already taken shape in his mind.
***
Time flew.
Half a month had passed since Suzy confessed the truth about the coming apocalypse.
The weather showed no sign of cooling. If anything, it grew hotter by the day.
Thirty-five degrees Celsius—and it was supposed to be nearing winter.
Just as Leonard had predicted, George had not contacted Suzy again.
His company appeared to be facing serious trouble, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. He was reportedly overwhelmed, scrambling to put out fires on every front.
Meanwhile, Suzy and Leonard were busier than ever.
Suzy continued stockpiling supplies while searching for overseas channels for weapons and energy.
Each day blurred into the next—either receiving deliveries or placing new orders.
In her rare moments of free time, she ran around collecting takeout from restaurants—milk tea, fried chicken, burgers, snacks—picking them up at designated times, stuffing everything into storage. She was so busy she barely had time to breathe.
She hadn’t forgotten her treasure-hunting function, either.
The moment its cooldown expired, she would activate it again, targeting locations most likely to "drop loot."
And sure enough, she discovered quite a few items infused with that faint, flowing light—objects capable of upgrading her space.
She realized it wasn’t just antiques that carried the glow.
Certain jade and gemstones had a chance of containing it, too.
Yet despite absorbing so many items, her space showed no signs of leveling up again.
***
At the same time, Leonard was liquidating assets.
Properties. Stock dividends. Investments.
Everything was being converted into liquid capital.
His company was thriving, which made his actions even more puzzling to outsiders.
Rumors began to circulate.
Some speculated he had developed a gambling problem. Others whispered he was facing hidden financial collapse.
Leonard ignored them all.
His moves were bold and conspicuous. Bold enough that Adam noticed, too.
One afternoon, Adam showed up at the house unannounced.
He knew the door code.
When he stepped into the living room, he found Suzy and Leonard sitting close together in front of a laptop, discussing something intensely.
Adam cleared his throat lightly. Both of them looked up at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison.
Leonard noticed Adam was dressed unusually youthful that day—but with Suzy present, he refrained from teasing him.
"Why didn’t you say you were coming?" Leonard asked instead.
Adam took a seat, brows slightly furrowed. "What’s going on with you lately? Did you actually start gambling?"
Leonard immediately understood why he had come. After all, he’d heard the rumors himself.
"Of course not," Leonard replied flatly. Then he went straight to the point. "The apocalypse is coming."
He and Suzy had already discussed this. They had no intention of hiding it from Adam. In fact, they had been planning to warn him—to tell him to start stockpiling supplies.
They just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
Adam’s reaction was... unnervingly calm. He only frowned faintly.
Leonard repeated himself. "In two months, the world changes. You’d better start preparing."
Adam’s gaze moved between the two of them.
Then he asked, in a tone that was almost casual, "You’ve received the news too?"
The question stunned both Suzy and Leonard.
Received the news?
Did that mean... The higher authorities already knew?