Two weeks flew by quicker than Kain had expected. During this time, he decided to turn his musings into reality. He couldn’t stay in obscurity. The world he was about to enter wasn’t one where weak people thrive.

He needed to have his own power.

So, in the first week, he spent the majority of his time buying foodstuffs. One of the industries under his company’s management had to do with the food industry. Thus, he could buy more supplies under the banner of stocking up.

He made sure to separate the items being shipped to various warehouses. So it only appeared he was getting ahead of his inventory, and not like he was hoarding food.

The kind of operation, however, was not without scrutiny. He could only advise the shareholders and let them know he would be willing to bear the cost of any goods that might spoil.

It was also at the end of this first week that Kain came to a realization. One so absurd that he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t thought about it in the first place.

During the collapse, the world completely changes. The food he wanted to preserve in mountainous areas where the waters couldn’t reach...

It’s entirely possible that he will never be able to see it again.

The world during the collapse isn’t just an apocalypse; it is a rebirth. The first two years are the easy part. But after those two years, the world completely restructures itself. Mountains that never existed have popped up.

Cities that used to be close become almost a landmass apart. The world literally grows. Kain didn’t know how many times he had hit himself for being stupid. He managed to forget something so crucial.

But then, that begs the question. How was Amelia’s uncle able to live well in the New World? If the supplies he had didn’t end up in Timbuktu, then he either knew exactly where to place them or he had a place large enough to hold everything.

The thought was disconcerting but fleeting. Kain didn’t have time to question others. He needed to think about what he would do.

In the midst of storing, Amelia contacted him. According to her, she had told her father about the insanity he told her. However, this was only after confirming the betrayal of her closet confidante and the movements of her uncle.

There was also another strange discovery she made. When he asked, she was reluctant to speak over the phone. Which is how Kain ended up on the road heading to the Hartwell mansion.

Moving at a snail’s pace, Kain couldn’t help complaining. ’I should have let the driver take me. People claim driving is just like riding a bicycle; you never really forget. Well, look who forgot.’

The scowl on his face never left, as if etched permanently on his visage. Every car that passed, he wanted to slam into it. Regardless, he soon saw the road leading to the mansion. His grip on the steering wheel loosened.

He sped up. Being the only person on the road, he was able to keep the semblance of being calm. After all, as a man, he still had his pride.

Tall security gates came into view. A discreet security booth was nestled in near the wall on which ivy crept. The gates opened soundlessly after he answered the question of the security personnel.

He continued on the long winding road leading up to the mansion. The hedges were trimmed, the trees shaped. There were no falling leaves, simply the picture of perfection.

The front doors were large, twice the height of an ordinary person. Kain had no reason to knock. No sooner had he stepped out of the car and up to the door had they opened.

Before him stood a man who had the air of comfortable ease. Though he was a bit older, his posture belied the fact that he exercised regularly. The sharpness in his eyes made Kain aware that this man was by no means ordinary.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, but he forced it to fade.

"Mr Nightfall, the Hartwells have been expecting you," he said. He gestured for Kain to follow.

Kain followed him down the hall. The Hartwell mansion was a thing of beauty. High ceilings and polished marble floors. The air had faint scents of sandalwood and cedar.

But Kain was in no mood to admire it, because stepping into the living area, the thought he had forced down came back with startling clarity.

The living area, with its timeless feel and antique paintings, gave way to the glaring truth of the Hartwell family.

Amelia was the butler’s child.

There was no denying it. She looked like her mother, yes, but the resemblance was there. This revelation, of course, changed nothing for him. No one has time to care about legitimate or illegitimate children when they can’t even fill their stomachs.

The family sat in the foyer, waiting for him. The patriarch of the family, Roger Hartwell, his wife, Margaret Hartwell, and their three children, Nicola, Danielle, and Amelia.

No one spoke, their faces grim. Each person sat, lost in their own thoughts.

"Master, Mr Nightfall, is here."

It was only at this time that everyone looked up, noticing Kain.

Amelia walked towards him, her face a mask of indifference, but her body told another story. She reached for his hand and pulled him onto the sofa where she was sitting.

The butler, contrary to what Kain expected, did not leave the room. Rather, he found a seat not far away and sat down.

Kain didn’t bother to think about the dynamics of this family. That was not his reason for being here. Whatever revelations he was having would have to wait until later.

The atmosphere was still. Roger Hartwell’s eyes met Kain. If not for his experience in the apocalypse, the aura Roger Hartwell exuded would have made him shudder and feel unsure of himself.

Kain nodded to himself. This is exactly what he expected from a man who is in charge of multiple industries and has to deal with scheming and backstabbing daily.

It made him wonder even more why they ended up dying as they did.

Kain accepted the pressure, keeping eye contact with Roger. The atmosphere grew more stifled; still, Kain did not waver. A silent contest had begun.

In the end, it was Roger who had to look away.