The Apocalypse Took Everything, This Time I Hoard It All First
Chapter 7: Stockpiling 3

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Stockpiling 3

After making sure everything was in order, the two enthusiastically saw Luna and Miles Dawson out.

As they passed the service desk, a jealous glare swept over the group before finally landing on Claire Wright.

Luna Dawson stopped at the service desk and spoke to Claire Wright. "Some people are lazy when it comes to service, but they put all their energy into discriminating against us out-of-towners. King, don’t let it get to you. I’ll need more trucks in a while, and I’ll come to you for them. We’ll keep in touch on WeChat."

After she finished speaking, she turned, her gaze landing on the woman behind the desk. She adjusted her glasses and stared at the woman’s name tag. "Miss Melissa Sawyer, is it? I hope you’ll learn to control your eyes and mouth by the next time I visit. Stop shooting me those disgusting looks. After all, we people from small towns just love to file complaints."

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the air. Everyone sitting nearby turned to look, murmuring amongst themselves.

Hearing this, Manager Miller, who had followed them out, frowned and shot Melissa Sawyer a frantic look.

Melissa Sawyer stood up reluctantly. Though she was seething inside, she gave in to her manager’s pressure and said, "I’m sorry... Miss Dawson..."

Luna Dawson shot her a look and walked out the door.

"Thank you, Miss Dawson!"

Claire Wright felt a prickle in her nose, her eyes full of gratitude.

She lived in a tiny, cramped, shared apartment and cherished this hard-won job. Even when her colleagues gave her a hard time, she gritted her teeth and endured it, just wanting to work hard, make money, and stay in the city.

"It’s fine, you don’t have to see us out. It’s hot outside."

Luna and Miles Dawson were already far in the distance, but Claire Wright was still behind them, waving and watching them go.

Since it was a rare trip to Kensington, the two of them visited a professional outdoor supply store.

The "Pinnacle Outdoor Gear" sign was striking under the scorching sun. It was one of the few specialty shops in the industry certified to supply military-grade equipment.

They pushed open the heavy glass door, and a rush of dry air, carrying the rough scent of canvas and the cool fragrance of metal, washed over them, instantly dispelling the sweltering heat from outside.

The store stretched back over a hundred meters. In the space with its six-meter-high ceilings, aviation-grade aluminum shelves were neatly arranged. Models of climbing ropes and inflatable assault craft hung from the ceiling, displayed in groups according to outdoor scenarios: high-altitude, extreme cold, aquatic, and more.

Track lighting was precisely aimed at the gear, making every detail clearly visible.

The store was divided into meticulous sections. Signs for "Polar Protection," "Mountain Trekking," and "Aquatic Rescue" were clear and easy to read. Each section was staffed by a sales associate who held an outdoor rescue certification.

Miles Dawson stared curiously at a display case of entrenching tools to the left of the entrance. A sales associate, Ryan Palmer, followed his gaze and eagerly stepped forward to give an introduction.

Luna Dawson continued further into the store. She stopped in front of a rack of extreme cold weather suits, examining the various styles. The tags detailed their performance data at minus sixty degrees, along with their windproofing and breathability ratings.

Ryan Palmer was sharp; he immediately grabbed a thermal imager to give a live demonstration of the insulation.

Luna Dawson nodded in satisfaction and took out the purchase list she had prepared.

Seeing that it was a large wholesale order, Ryan Palmer excitedly led the pair to the second-floor negotiation area.

"One thousand sets each of professional outdoor tents, portable cassette stoves, hiking boots, and entrenching tools. One thousand sets each of extreme cold weather suits, thermal insulation suits, and diving gear—all in a complete range of small, medium, and large sizes. One thousand sets each of tracksuits and all-weather jackets, also in assorted sizes. Additionally, I want to order fifty inflatable assault craft and fifty kayaks. I need military-grade, abrasion-resistant hulls with emergency life-saving equipment. Delivery must be within one week," Luna Dawson said, her voice steady and her gaze firm.

Ryan Palmer reviewed the list, his fingertips trembling slightly as he skillfully worked the system. He looked up to confirm, "Yes! Absolutely! All this equipment is top-of-the-line, and it will come with quality inspection reports. We also support on-site sample inspections. If this is all correct, we can sign the purchase contract now, and we’ll immediately coordinate with the warehouse to prioritize your order!"

Luna Dawson nodded, paid, and exchanged contact information with Ryan Palmer. She had also rented a massive warehouse in Kensington to make it easier to receive the shipments later.

Luna Dawson had already bought her plane ticket to Meridia. She told Miles to return to Southen and work with Mrs. Dawson to contact large-scale fruit growers, both locally and nationally, to arrange wholesale purchases of various fruits.

She wouldn’t be going back with him. She had to go abroad, flying directly from The Capital Airport. If she didn’t, Mrs. Dawson would only worry about her traveling alone.

Miles Dawson said, "Sis, I want to go abroad and look around too..."

Luna Dawson explained patiently, "I’m going to see if I can get my hands on some gasoline, diesel, weapons, and medicine. I also want to acquire a few RVs and off-road vehicles to bring back. If I run into danger, I can just enter my space. It would be inconvenient to have you with me."

"You go back, make a plan, and take charge of ordering clothes, shoes, and socks for everyone in our family—men, women, young, and old. Also, order sheets, duvet covers, and things like that from various brand manufacturers. Oh, and buy all sorts of furniture and appliances. Make sure you buy in bulk and get a full range of sizes."

After hearing this, Miles Dawson nodded in understanding. "Alright," he said. "You can count on me."

The two returned to the hotel to rest. Luna Dawson leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, her finger scrolling through profiles of potential consultants on her tablet. It finally stopped on the name "Jason Cole."

His profile indicated he had been a specialist in Lockton’s trade sector for ten years, excelling at emergency procurement and warehouse logistics. He had an excellent reputation and was known for his discretion.

With a light tap of her finger, she dialed the international number provided, her tone as casual as if she were booking afternoon tea.

The call connected instantly. A calm, professional voice with an American accent came through a perfectly clear line. "Hello, this is the Jason Cole Consulting Studio. How may I help you?"

"Mr. Cole, my name is Luna Dawson. I’m calling from China." Luna took a sip of the lemonade beside her and got straight to the point. "I have a short-term, urgent project I’d like to hire you for. The budget is unlimited, and there’s a one million US Dollar bonus for you upon completion."

Jason was silent for two seconds on the other end of the line, clearly not expecting such a direct opening. His tone, however, remained professional. "Hello, Ms. Dawson. Please describe your specific needs. As long as it’s within legal bounds, I’ll do my utmost to accomplish it."

He’d been in the business for years and had seen his share of big-spending clients; a million-dollar bonus wasn’t enough to throw him off his game.

"First, I need you to register several overseas trading companies for me. The names don’t matter. The key is to get them accredited quickly for subsequent cash flow and contract signings."

Luna’s voice was steady, her instructions methodical. "Second, use the new companies to lease six massive warehouses. They must be adjacent to Lockport, with convenient transport access. It doesn’t matter if they have ancillary facilities or not. The lease agreements must be signed within three days."

"Six massive warehouses, adjacent to the port, secured in three days." Jason’s pen scratched quickly across paper, precisely noting the key information. "Please continue."

"Third, procuring energy resources. Five thousand tons each of gasoline, diesel, and aviation kerosene. Find reliable energy suppliers, and have it all delivered to the leased warehouses within one week. It just needs to be in sealed storage tanks."

Luna paused, then added, "You don’t need to arrange for any extra UV or leak protection. I’ll have my own people handle the follow-up."

"Fifteen thousand tons of energy resources, delivered to warehouses near the port within one week." Jason repeated to confirm. "Understood."

"Fourth, food and commodity procurement. One thousand tons each of soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton, potatoes, and other similar items. I need high-quality grades, vacuum-packed for moisture and pest resistance. I also need one thousand tons each of salt and sugar. All of it delivered to the warehouses within a week and stacked in separate areas."

Luna’s tone was composed. She slowed her pace, waiting for Jason to jot everything down.