The Celestial Chess Piece: Reborn for the Apocalypse

Chapter 8

The luxury car dealership gleamed under rows of bright lights. Every surface was polished to a mirror shine, and expensive vehicles filled the showroom.

Caleb walked past the rows of sedans and sports cars without giving them a second glance. He headed straight toward the back, where the heavy-duty vehicles were displayed.

Within seconds, a salesman in a fitted gray suit approached him. His eyes lit up with the excitement of someone who worked on commission.

"Welcome, sir! Are you looking for anything specific today?" he asked with a practiced smile, extending his hand.

"High-performance SUVs," Caleb replied, briefly shaking his hand before continuing forward. "Something built for extreme terrain. Heavy-duty vehicles with military-grade durability, if you have them."

The salesman's eyebrows rose. Most customers asked about leather seats, entertainment systems, and Bluetooth connectivity. This customer was clearly looking for something different.

"I believe I have exactly what you need." He gestured toward a service elevator at the back of the building. "We recently received a vehicle in our underground showroom that very few people know about. Please, follow me."

They took the elevator down one floor and entered a concrete garage illuminated by bright industrial lights.

In the center of the garage, beneath a spotlight, stood a vehicle that looked more suited to a battlefield than an ordinary road.

"Mercedes-Benz Unimog," the salesman announced proudly, walking around it. "It has a powerful turbo-diesel engine, four-wheel drive, portal axles, and triple differential locks. It can handle extremely rough terrain and even cross deep water. This machine can drive through places where ordinary vehicles would get stuck."

Caleb slowly circled the vehicle, examining it with the attention of a man who knew exactly what he was looking for.

In his previous life, he had watched countless survivors die because their vehicles broke down on flooded highways or became trapped beneath piles of rubble. Many of those deaths could have been prevented if they had possessed vehicles like this one.

The Unimog would have saved dozens of lives.

"How much?" Caleb asked, running his fingers over the reinforced bumper.

"Five hundred and twenty thousand dollars, sir." The salesman quoted the price carefully, clearly expecting Caleb to negotiate.

"I'll take it."

Caleb didn't hesitate.

"I also need at least two more heavy-duty SUVs. My fiancée's family is planning a large safari trip across Africa, so I need vehicles that can handle whatever the terrain throws at us."

For a moment, the salesman's jaw dropped. He quickly recovered and put on his professional smile.

"Absolutely, sir! I'll contact our store manager and check with our regional branches. We'll find the best vehicles available for you."

He gestured toward a nearby sitting area furnished with comfortable leather chairs.

"Please make yourself comfortable. Would you like some coffee or water?"

"Coffee would be great."

Caleb settled into one of the chairs and took out his phone.

While the salesman went to make the necessary calls, Caleb opened his inbox. Seventeen new emails waited for him, all from investment firms and private equity groups.

News had spread quickly that he was considering selling his forty-percent stake in Slade Enterprises.

He scrolled through the offers.

Sixty-two million dollars.

Sixty-eight million dollars.

Seventy-five million dollars.

Then he came across an offer at the bottom of the list that caught his attention.

Eighty million dollars.

A clean buyout with no additional conditions.

Caleb tapped the reply button and typed a short message confirming a meeting for the following afternoon.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Brielle would wake up one morning and discover that one of her biggest assets had been sold right from under her nose. Meanwhile, she was still busy trying to figure out how to trap him into the marriage again.

He couldn't wait to see her reaction.

Twenty minutes later, the salesman returned with two folders and an excited expression.

"Good news, Mr. Lane! We've located two more vehicles that meet your requirements."

He opened the first folder and spread several photographs across the table.

"First, we have the Hummer H2. It's a full-size SUV with a strong frame and excellent off-road capabilities. It performs well in deserts, mountains, and other difficult environments."

"Good." Caleb picked up one of the photographs and studied it. "What's the ground clearance?"

"The standard ground clearance is about ten point six inches, sir. However, we can install a lift kit to increase it to thirteen or fourteen inches while maintaining stability."

The salesman was becoming more confident as he explained the vehicle's features.

"Now, for the second option." He opened the other folder with even greater enthusiasm. "The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, AMG line. It has an excellent suspension system, a strong engineering design, and a reputation for handling difficult terrain. This particular model also comes with a triple-locking differential system."

"I'll take both."

Caleb placed the photographs on the table.

"I also want structural reinforcements on every vehicle. Install steel plating wherever possible, upgrade the roll cages, and do everything you can to improve their crash protection and frame strength."

"Absolutely, sir. I'll have our service team prepare the specifications immediately."

Before the salesman could say anything else, a deep voice came from across the showroom.

"Mr. Lane, it's an honor to meet you!"

The dealership's owner approached them. He was a broad-shouldered man in his fifties, dressed in a navy blazer and wearing a gold watch that probably cost more than many of the cars in the showroom.

He shook Caleb's hand firmly, his face full of excitement.

"When my team told me that someone was purchasing three premium SUVs in a single visit, I had to come down personally," he said. "As a gesture of appreciation, we'll provide a full tank of fuel for every vehicle."

"I appreciate that," Caleb replied with a nod.

The owner clasped his hands together, sensing another opportunity to make a sale.

"Since you're already here, have you considered buying a recreational vehicle? We carry a full range of luxury motorhomes."

"How large are the ones you have available?" Caleb asked, leaning forward.

"Our largest models in the showroom are twenty-eight feet long. They're spacious and comfortable for families."

"That's too small for what I need."

Caleb shook his head.

"I want something that can accommodate an entire family comfortably for several weeks. What's the biggest one you can get me?"

The owner's eyes widened slightly. He took out his phone and began searching through what appeared to be a wholesale catalog.

"We have a forty-foot luxury RV at our suburban warehouse. It's a heavy-duty model that was specially ordered, but the original buyer backed out of the purchase."

He turned the phone toward Caleb and began showing him photographs.

"It has two full bedrooms, two bathrooms with showers, a complete kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, and a spacious living area with convertible seating. Most importantly, it's equipped with high-clearance off-road suspension and reinforced underbody plating."

Caleb studied the photographs carefully.

The vehicle was practically a small apartment on wheels.

In the apocalypse, it could serve as a mobile base, giving him a place to sleep, cook, and rest while traveling through dangerous areas.

It was exactly the kind of vehicle he needed.

"I'll take it," Caleb said, pointing at the screen. "And I want five medium-sized RVs as well."

The owner's smile widened.

"My fiancée has a large family," Caleb explained. "We'll need enough space for her parents, siblings, and children."

The owner looked as though he might faint from excitement. He quickly composed himself and excused himself to prepare the necessary contracts.

Thirty minutes later, Caleb was seated behind a polished mahogany desk, signing the purchase agreements.

The total cost of the entire fleet came to seven million dollars.

He transferred three million dollars as an initial deposit and signed an agreement to pay the remaining balance according to the terms of the contract.

"I want every vehicle reinforced with defensive armor plating," Caleb said, tapping the contract with his pen. "Fill every fuel tank completely, and deliver all the vehicles to my suburban warehouse within one month."

"You have my word, Mr. Lane," the owner assured him, extending his hand. "Everything will be completed according to your specifications."

"One more thing."

Caleb shook his hand but maintained eye contact.

"The reinforcements are extremely important. We'll be traveling with elderly family members and small children. Every vehicle must be able to withstand serious impacts while keeping the people inside as safe as possible."

The owner nodded seriously.

"I understand completely, sir. We'll handle this like a diplomatic protection contract. Your family's safety will be our top priority."

"That's exactly what I want to hear."

Caleb stood and buttoned his jacket.

With the contracts signed and the vehicles secured, he had taken another important step toward preparing for the coming apocalypse.

He walked out of the dealership and climbed into his Ferrari.

As he started the engine, he glanced at the rearview mirror. Through the glass doors, he could see the owner and the salesman shaking hands and celebrating.

It was probably the biggest sale of their careers.

Caleb couldn't have cared less about their celebration.

He had more important things to do.

Heavy-duty vehicles were only one part of his preparations. He still needed food, medicine, clean water, and countless other supplies. He planned to purchase them in large quantities before the world descended into chaos.

With one final glance at the dealership, he drove away.

His next stop was the local farms and wholesale markets.

The countdown to the apocalypse had already begun, and Caleb intended to be ready.