CHAPTER TWELVEThe black bomb-proof SUV rolled through the quiet streets and finally turned onto the long private road leading to Nova Domicile.Zane kept one hand on the wheel. The man from the restaurant had already faded from his mind. A single stranger waving at him meant nothing compared to the real problem: someone had emptied a massive amount of supplies from the End District.That was his territory. His final sweep. Now another player was moving in the shadows, hoarding on the same scale he was. That was the real threat.As the SUV approached, the huge, tall automated customized gate sensed the vehicle and slid open smoothly with a low mechanical hum.Zane drove in without slowing down. The moment the SUV cleared the threshold, the heavy reinforced gate closed behind him with a solid thud.Just then, the new phone he had purchased from IVDS — one of only eight in the world with its unmatched technological network — began beeping uncontrollably in the center console.Zane frown

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Zane’s finger hovered over the glowing confirmation prompt. [Teleportation Service ready. Proceed?] Before he could tap it, the holographic screen flickered violently. Bright red warning text erupted across the core: [Warning: Another user has attempted to access this location.] His smile vanished. Every muscle in his body tensed as suspicion flooded his veins. Someone was trying to trespass into Nova Domicile? The apocalypse hadn’t even begun, yet trouble refused to stay away. He opened his mouth to demand answers, but the AI voice cut in first. [Alert resolved. Intrusion attempt traced to Freya Davis and Sarah Leon. Security protocols engaged. No breach detected.] Freya and Sarah? Those two nosy, gossip-hungry neighbors. Zane clicked his tongue in irritation. What the hell did they want now? Madelyn and Edgar must have moved out. He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing at the flickering screen. After a tense beat, he shrugged it off. Let them stay outside and rot.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Over the past few days, Zane had been actively hoarding supplies from outside the country. His bunker beneath the fortress was now completely filled. Even the extra rooms in the fortress were not spared. Every single space — shelves, corridors, even the narrow walkways — had been packed floor to ceiling with non-perishables. He had called Trigger back to make critical adjustments and install additional security measures: reinforced perimeter sensors, upgraded drone patrols, and hidden countermeasures along the towering fence. Sarah and Freya had visited Nova Domicile constantly, trying to make scenes at the gate, clearly fishing for attention. Zane had not entertained them once. Freya, growing more frustrated, began spreading rumours in their circle that Zane was involved in illegal activities inside the compound. That was why, she claimed, he had built the fence so absurdly tall that no one could even reach halfway up, let alone see what was happening inside.

CHAPTER EIGHTEENFour hours later.Edgar, Madelyn, Ruby, and their twenty hired thugs marched through the quiet streets of Creamcastle Estate and stopped directly in front of Nova Domicile. The massive fortress stood adjacent to Vaughn Residence, separated only by a narrow service road. Its towering reinforced walls rose like an impenetrable monolith beneath the security floodlights.Edgar puffed out his chest, emboldened by the armed men behind him. He slammed his fist against the reinforced gate.“Zane Vaughn!” he shouted. “Come out here, you coward! Hiding behind your ugly wall like the weak little boy you are. Come face me if you’ve got any balls!”Inside Nova Domicile, Zane sat comfortably in the monitoring room, twirling a forkful of perfectly cooked spaghetti. A juicy steak rested on the plate beside it.He already knew their every move.For hours, he had watched them plotting inside Vaughn Residence through his hidden surveillance system.A holographic countdown floated before

CHAPTER TWENTYThe Creamcastle Heavenly Casino thrummed with life. Crystal chandeliers spilled golden light across velvet tables and spinning roulette wheels.It was the largest and most luxurious gambling house in the Republic of Eldoria, a place where fortunes could be made or shattered in a single night. Laughter, clinking chips, and the constant murmur of bets buzzed through the air like a living heartbeat.Collin leaned heavily against the craps table, cheeks flushed from too much whiskey.A crooked grin split his face as he shoved forward another towering stack of chips—his largest bet of the night.“Twenty thousand on the come-out roll!” he shouted, voice thick and slurred. “Watch and learn, boys. I’ve already won nine out of twelve rounds tonight. I’m the biggest winner in this damn casino!”A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. Some gamblers shook their heads in amusement, others smirked.“Yeah, right,” a slick-haired man in a tailored suit chuckled. “Biggest winner