Chapter 43
Seeing the obvious shock on both their faces, Adam finally explained everything.
Turns out, he had a relative working at a research institute. Recently, that relative had warned him that the abnormal temperatures were no coincidence. The heat was very likely to intensify, and there was a strong possibility of prolonged extreme high temperatures.
He had been advised to prepare in advance.
The Bennet family had already begun stockpiling supplies. Adam himself had started buying in bulk over a week ago.
He had originally intended to warn Suzy and Leonard as well—but it seemed they had acted even faster than he had.
There were still two months before the extreme heat disaster would officially erupt.
But the warning signs had already appeared.
Suzy hadn’t expected that others had begun noticing it too.
***
After Adam left, she logged into the apocalyptic survival forum she had been following.
Sure enough, there was a new post pinned near the top.
The author was a high-ranking veteran member—someone well-respected in the community.
The content echoed what Adam had said.
The poster claimed to have family in a research institute as well. According to insider information, the current heat anomaly would persist and likely escalate into sustained high temperatures.
The advice was clear:
Stockpile water.
Stockpile food.
Prepare cooling equipment.
The post included a photo—an entire room stacked floor to ceiling with bottled water, self-heating rice meals, canned goods, and other long-shelf-life supplies.
Not everyone on the forum could see the thread; it was restricted to users above a certain level.
Only seasoned survival enthusiasts remained.
Suzy had only gained access because her earlier post had gone viral. She had been checking in daily, steadily raising her account level—just enough to unlock this section.
She scrolled through the comments.
Every single reply said the same thing:
"Got it."
"Already stocking up."
"Heading to the warehouse now."
Not a single sarcastic remark. Not one person dismissing it.
They were truly obedient when it came to warnings.
Suzy saved the post and showed it to Leonard.
He read it silently and said, "We need to accelerate our preparations."
Two months were neither long nor short.
Leonard wasn’t lacking funds. He had already rented multiple warehouses, each filled to capacity.
When it came to stockpiling, he was even more aggressive than Suzy.
Now, his focus had shifted to weapons.
Their country’s firearm regulations made legal acquisition nearly impossible.
Importing from overseas was even more unrealistic.
His only option for now was to purchase crossbows and other legally circulating equipment within the country.
***
Meanwhile, the overseas channel Suzy had been trying to secure, finally responded.
She had never given up on obtaining firearms abroad. With weapons, survival odds in the apocalypse increased dramatically.
Large-scale purchases of firearms and energy resources were virtually impossible domestically.
But overseas... It was feasible.
And she had her space. Transportation wouldn’t be a problem.
After confirming arrangements with the overseas contact, Suzy informed Leonard and prepared to leave for M Country.
Leonard had initially wanted to accompany her, but he couldn’t step away from the company at the moment.
Unwilling to let her travel alone, he arranged a bodyguard.
The man was a mercenary with prior ties to Leonard. Years ago, during a business trip overseas, Leonard had been kidnapped.
That mercenary had been part of the rescue team.
That was how they’d connected.
Learning that the man was currently in M Country, Leonard hired him to protect Suzy.
The price was generous.
It wasn’t their first collaboration, after all. And the mercenary agreed.
***
3:00 PM local time.
Suzy landed in M Country.
She pulled out her phone, ready to contact the bodyguard Leonard had arranged. When she had first heard about the bodyguard, she had resisted the idea.
But she was a young woman alone in a foreign country, and M Country had been unstable lately. Crime rates were surprisingly high.
The thought of running into the wrong person made her reconsider. She dialed the number saved in her contacts.
The call connected quickly.
A low, deep male voice came through the receiver. "You’ve arrived?"
Suzy blinked. She instinctively pulled the phone slightly away from her ear and rubbed it.
That voice... Was unexpectedly pleasant.
She answered crisply, "Yes. I’ve just exited the airport."
"Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you," the man said.
Then he hung up.
Suzy slipped her phone back into her pocket and glanced around.
All around her were sharp-featured faces moving in steady streams. She still wasn’t quite used to being surrounded by unfamiliar languages and foreign expressions.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. She looked up blankly, and for a split second, it felt like she was staring at a wall.
"Miss Kale?"
The man’s voice was low and resonant, textured like fine gravel, yet his language was fluent and clear.
A wave of raw, masculine presence hit her all at once—so strong it made her instinctively step back.
She had to tilt her head up to properly see him.
Her first thought was: So tall... and so strong.
The first thing that struck her senses was his height and build. Over six foot three, easily.
His frame was like a towering fortress, casting a shadow large enough to swallow her whole.
He wore a simple black T-shirt—nothing special—but the muscles along his exposed arms were coiled and defined, full of explosive strength. His bronzed skin bore several old scars, faint yet noticeable.
He looked dangerous. And undeniably attractive.
When her gaze finally moved up to his face, she noticed that "delicate" was not a word that could describe him.
His features were sharp and rugged, as if carved by blade and chisel. His jawline was clean and severe. A straight, high nose. Full lips pressed into a firm line.
Hawk-like eyes—dark, pitch-black pupils.
His hair was cropped extremely short, almost shaved close to the scalp. A pale scar cut faintly near his temple.
A face with striking tension.
So intense.
And, if she was being honest, intimidating.
He looked down at her without much expression, his gaze cool and distant.
"It’s me," Suzy replied.
Facing such a large, imposing man at this distance made her nerves tighten despite herself.
Where on earth had Uncle found this bodyguard...
"The car’s this way. I’ll take you to the hotel. Where’s your luggage?"
He glanced around but didn’t see any suitcases.
Suzy pointed at her backpack. "Just this."
Everything else she needed was already stored in her space.
He gave a short nod. "Let’s go."
He walked ahead. She followed behind.
Suddenly, a familiar mechanical voice sounded in her mind:
[Suitable target detected: Thomas Kim]
[Level: SSS]
[Affinity insufficient. Binding unavailable.]
Suzy froze for half a second. Was he a bindable target?
And SSS-level, no less.
Unfortunately, his favorability wasn’t high enough yet to establish a link.
For the sake of the binding reward, she decided she would definitely need to improve that.
She quickened her pace.
Soon, they reached a black SUV. He gestured toward the passenger seat.
She climbed in.
The engine started, and the vehicle smoothly pulled away toward the hotel she had booked.
After a moment of silence, the man spoke.
"My name is Thomas Kim."