Chapter 2: Liquidating an Empire and the First Hoard

[System Alert: Sovereign Spatial Realm Initialized.]

[Body Enhancement Tree Unlocked: Tier 1 (Mortal Limit) — Unlocked.]

[Requirement for Tier 1 Enhancement: 1,000 Spatial Energy Points (SEP).]

[Current SEP: 0 / 1,000]

[Note: SEP is generated daily based on the total value and rarity of physical resources stored inside the Spatial Realm.]

Seraphina stared at the blue holographic screen hovering in her retinas as her twin-turbo sports car roared down the central highway.

A multi-tiered body enhancement system.

It meant that the more food, medicine, steel, fuel, and weapons she hoarded into her space, the faster her physical strength, speed, sensory perception, and viral immunity would upgrade. By the time the blood-red rain fell on Zero Hour, she wouldn't just be sitting in a fortress with infinite food—she would already possess the physical stats of an Awakened warrior before the rest of humanity even realized what was happening.

Clang!

Seraphina slapped the steering wheel, her lips curving into a cold, lethal smile.

"Tier 1 requires 1,000 points... then let's start filling the vault."

Thirty minutes later. Sterling Financial Tower — 88th Floor, President's Office.

The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a sweeping, panoramic view of the entire metropolis. Sunlight bounced off towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and distant shipping docks.

Inside the office, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Arthur Henderson, the senior estate attorney, sat across from Seraphina's massive mahogany desk. Beside him were three top financial analysts and the chief legal counsel of the Sterling Financial Group. Their faces were pale, sweat glistening on their foreheads as they went over the screen displays.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

Seraphina’s long, manicured fingers tapped rhythmically against the glass surface of her desk.

"How long until the liquidation is complete?" she asked, her tone flat, cool, and completely devoid of room for negotiation.

"P-President Sterling..." Chief Financial Officer Lin cleared his throat nervously, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses. "Selling off Sterling Logistics’ deep-water ports, the cold-chain distribution hubs, and the commercial real estate portfolio in a rush... we will take at least a fifteen percent loss due to fire-sale pricing. If we wait even two months—"

"I didn't ask about losses, CFO Lin," Seraphina cut him off, her dark eyes locking onto his. The sheer pressure radiating from her made the veteran executive swallow hard. "I asked for a timeline."

"If we execute the emergency liquidation protocols immediately and sell to the government development funds and international conglomerates who have standing cash offers..." CFO Lin stammered, "...we can have $680 Million USD cleared into your private off-shore accounts within six business days."

"$680 million," Seraphina repeated softly.

In her past life, Julian had systematically drained this exact wealth, transferring ownership of the ports and warehouses to his own shell companies, using her family's blood money to secure a spot in a High-Tier Private Shelter while leaving her to freeze.

"Do it," Seraphina ordered cleanly. "Liquidate every stock option, every commercial property, and every non-essential corporate asset. I want all $680 million split across four private, non-traceable accounts in Switzerland, Singapore, and offshore shell entities."

"Understood!" CFO Lin bowed his head rapidly, not daring to question her authority again.

"Also," Seraphina turned her eyes to Mr. Henderson. "What is the status of Julian Hayes and Chloe Sterling?"

Mr. Henderson let out a quiet, satisfied chuckle, pulling out a tablet. "Miss Sterling, as per your orders at the restaurant, the corporate audit team hit Julian’s office twenty minutes ago. We uncovered $24 million in illegal wire transfers from Sterling Logistics to an unlisted account co-owned by Chloe."

"Fast work," Seraphina noted mildly.

"Julian is currently at the hospital receiving stitches for his broken jaw," Mr. Henderson continued, his eyes gleaming with professional malice. "When he steps out of the emergency room, the Federal Financial Crimes Unit will be waiting for him with an arrest warrant. As for Chloe... private bailiffs arrived at her penthouse fifteen minutes ago. Her designer clothes, jewelry, and luxury bags purchased with embezzled funds have been seized. She has been evicted."

[Ding!]

[Karma Reversal Triggered!]

[Antagonists Punished: Julian Hayes & Chloe Sterling.]

[Reward: 200 Spatial Energy Points (SEP) Granted!]

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed slightly as a system notification flashed before her eyes.

A Karma Reversal Reward? Getting revenge on those two parasites actually grants system points?

"Excellent," Seraphina said, standing up from her desk and smoothing her designer coat. "Keep Julian in custody. Do not allow him bail under any circumstances. As for Chloe, let her taste what it feels like to sleep on the concrete."

Without another word, Seraphina grabbed her car keys and walked straight toward the private elevator.

She had no time to waste celebrating. Six hundred and eighty million dollars was coming, but her space needed its first massive supply wave today.

2:30 PM. Harbor Logistics Zone — Northern Industrial District.

Warehouse No. 47 was a massive, 50,000-square-meter automated logistics center right at the edge of the deep-water docks.

The air smelled of sea salt, industrial diesel, and metal. Thousands of heavy shipping containers were stacked like giant colorful bricks under towering cranes.

A plump, middle-aged man in a high-visibility vest and yellow hardhat was running toward Seraphina’s sports car, wiping grease from his forehead. He was Mark Vance (no relation), the chief operations director of the Sterling Import & Export Hub.

"President Sterling!" Mark bowed respectfully, looking flustered. "When I got the call from headquarters saying you were coming down to inspect the docks personally, I couldn't believe it! What brings you to the import bays?"

Seraphina stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the concrete floor of the warehouse.

"Mark," Seraphina looked around the gigantic, cavernous structure. "How many wholesale food and medical shipments are currently cleared through customs and sitting in this sector?"

"Ah! We currently have three massive grain freighters that docked this morning, President Sterling!" Mark pulled out his digital clipboard, scrolling fast. "Because of Sterling Group’s international supply contracts, we have:

 * 20,000 tons of high-grade white rice and wheat flour.

 * 5,000 tons of refined white sugar and salt.

 * 500,000 crates of canned meats, tuna, and preserved vegetables.

 * 100,000 barrels of cold-pressed cooking oil.

   It was all meant to be distributed to regional supermarket chains over the next two weeks."

Seraphina’s eyes flickered.

Grain, salt, sugar, oil, and canned meat. These were the absolute golden currency of the apocalypse! In her past life, a single small tin of rotten tuna could cost a human life. Salt was worth more than gold because without it, survivors died of hyponatremia within weeks of heavy labor.

"Cancel all distribution contracts to the supermarkets," Seraphina commanded instantly.

Mark blinked, his jaw dropping. "C-Cancel them, President Sterling? The retail chains will sue us for breach of contract!"

"Pay the breach penalties," Seraphina said without missing a beat. "Transfer full ownership of all food shipments in Warehouse 47, 48, and 49 to my private personal estate. I am buying out the entire stock at double the market price using my private trust fund."

Mark swallowed hard, his eyes wide. Double market price meant his department would hit its annual profit quota in a single afternoon! "I-I will process the transfer papers immediately, President Sterling! Where do you want the trucks to deliver them?"

"Nowhere," Seraphina said coldly. "Move all the containers into Warehouse 47. Seal the heavy steel doors. Clear all dock workers, drivers, and security personnel out of this sector by 4:00 PM. Tell them I am conducting a private inventory audit."

Mark didn't dare question a billionaire President making weird demands. "Yes, ma'am! It will be done in one hour!"

4:15 PM. Inside Warehouse No. 47.

The heavy iron doors of the gigantic warehouse rolled down with a thunderous BOOM, locking out the rest of the world.

Inside, the vast space was filled with row after row of towering metal shelving and thousands of wooden pallets stacked ten meters high. Mountainous stacks of rice sacks, sealed crates of canned beef, barrels of oil, and refined sugar sat silently in the dim industrial lighting.

It was silent. Completely empty.

Seraphina stood in the middle of the aisle, her black silk coat fluttering gently as she raised her left hand.

On her middle finger, the dark obsidian ring hummed, glowing with a subtle, dangerous violet luminescence.

[System Scanning Environment...]

[Target Material Identified: High-Density Food & Essential Organic Supplies.]

[Total Weight: 28,500 Tons.]

[Target within 50-Meter Line-of-Sight Range.]

[Initiate Spatial Collection?]

Seraphina’s eyes flashed with absolute excitement.

"Collect everything!"

SWISH!

An invisible, gravity-distorting spatial shockwave exploded outward from Seraphina's body!

The air warped. Space twisted like a shattered mirror.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

In the span of a single second, thousands of tons of heavy wooden pallets, rice sacks, and metal crates vanished into thin air!

Row 1—GONE!

Row 2—GONE!

Row 10—GONE!

The sheer speed was terrifying! Whole mountains of supplies vanished as if they had been erased by an invisible eraser!

Inside her mind, the vast, pure-white infinite dimension instantly began filling up. Millions of rice sacks and canned crates neatly stacked themselves in perfect, suspended rows across the infinite vacuum, completely frozen in time. The hot canned meats remained steaming; the cold oil remained pristine. No decay. No mold. Forever fresh!

In less than ten seconds, the gigantic 50,000-square-meter warehouse was completely stripped bare down to the concrete floor! Not a single grain of rice was left behind!

[Ding!]

[Massive Supply Deposit Confirmed!]

[Stored Items: 28,500 Tons of Essential Staple Foods & Preserves.]

[Spatial Energy Points (SEP) Generated: +1,200 Points!]

[Congratulations! Host Has Reached 1,400 / 1,000 SEP!]

[Tier 1 Body Enhancement (Mortal Limit) Available for Awakening!]

[Would Host Like to Initiate Tier 1 Enhancement Now?]

Seraphina leaned against a steel pillar, taking a deep breath as the blue holographic screen hovered before her.

"Initiate Tier 1 Enhancement!"

[Command Confirmed! Initiating Tier 1 Body Refinement...]

THUMP!

An explosive, scorching heat suddenly erupted from the obsidian ring on her finger, surging straight into her veins like liquid fire!

Seraphina gasped, her spine straightening instantly.

The hot energy coursed through her bloodstream, circulating through her heart, her lungs, her spinal cord, and her muscular system. It felt as though every single cell in her body was being broken down, cleansed of impurities, and rebuilt with dense, superhuman fiber!

Dark, micro-impurities seeped out of her pores, evaporating into thin air. Her pale skin became smooth, flawless, and as strong as refined jade.

Her heart beat with heavy, thunderous power—THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Her senses exploded outward! She could suddenly hear the faint sound of seagulls crying two miles away over the ocean. She could see the individual dust motes floating in the dim light fifty meters across the empty warehouse!

[Ding!]

[Tier 1 Body Enhancement Complete!]

[Host Attributes Updated:]

 * Strength: 25 \rightarrow 80 (4x Normal Human Limit)

 * Agility: 20 \rightarrow 75 (3.5x Normal Human Limit)

 * Physique/Endurance: 18 \rightarrow 85 (Includes Base Immunity to Level 1 Virus/Toxins)

 * Sensory Perception: 22 \rightarrow 70

Seraphina clenched her left hand into a fist.

CRACKLE!

Air popped in her palm from the sheer compression of her grip strength. She walked over to a heavy industrial steel I-beam supporting the warehouse wall and lightly tapped it with her knuckle.

DENT!

The solid steel indented easily, as if she were poking soft clay!

"This is only Tier 1..." Seraphina whispered, her heart racing with thrill.

In her past life, even after two years of struggling in the apocalypse, normal human survivors were weak, fragile creatures easily torn apart by mutants. Only rare Awakened warriors could stand a chance. But right now, 29 days before Zero Hour, she already possessed the physical strength to crush a man's skull with her bare hand!

BRRRRR! BRRRRR!

Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

Seraphina pulled it out. The caller ID read: Chloe Sterling.

Seraphina picked up, setting the phone to her ear with a cold, mocking expression.

"S-Sera... Sera, please!"

Chloe’s hysterical, sobbing voice came screeching through the speaker. She sounded like she was crying on the dirty sidewalk, her fake, elegant act completely shattered.

"Sera, you have to help me! The bailiffs... they took everything! They threw me out of the penthouse! I don't even have my handbag or my credit cards! The police are saying Julian is going to federal prison!"

Seraphina listened quietly, her face devoid of any warmth.

"Sera, I’m your sister!" Chloe wept bitterly. "I have nowhere to go! I’m sitting outside the Sterling Building in the cold! Please... just give me ten thousand dollars... or let me stay at your mansion! I’ll do anything! Please!"

Seraphina let out a short, soft laugh that sounded like frost settling on concrete.

"Chloe," Seraphina said smoothly.

"Y-Yes, Sera?! You're coming to pick me up?!"

"Do you remember what you told me when my parents died?" Seraphina asked softly. "You told me that weak people should accept their place in the world and stop dragging down those who deserve to succeed."

Chloe froze on the other end of the line, her breath hitching. "Sera... I-I was just—"

"You like sleeping on the street, Chloe?" Seraphina's voice turned pitch-black. "Get used to it. Because this is just the appetizer."

CLICK.

Seraphina hung up the phone and instantly blocked Chloe’s number permanently.

[Ding!]

[Karma Reversal Triggered!]

[Antagonist Despair Level Increased!]

[Reward: +300 Spatial Energy Points (SEP)!]

Seraphina shoved her phone back into her pocket, not giving her pathetic stepsister another second of thought.

"Now that food is secured... step three begins," Seraphina muttered, looking out toward the city skyline.

She needed Medical Supplies, Tactical Weapons, Heavy Generators, and a Fortress Base.

She pulled out her satellite tablet and dialed an unlisted international number.

The call connected after two rings. A rough, heavily accented male voice answered:

"Sterling Financial? I thought you billionaires didn't call black-market logistics brokers on Tuesdays."

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed into sharp, deadly blades.

"Commander Vance," Seraphina spoke in fluent Russian. "I have $100 Million in cash cleared through Swiss accounts. I need ten thousand sets of high-grade military body armor, night-vision tactical gear, silencers, five million rounds of 5.56mm ammo, and twenty industrial diesel generators delivered to a private estate in seven days."

Silence fell over the line for three full seconds.

The broker let out a low, dangerous whistle. "100 million in cash for an army's worth of gear? Miss Sterling... are you planning to start a private war?"

Seraphina

looked up at the sky, where the afternoon sun was beginning to dip below the horizon.

"No," Seraphina smiled coldly. "I'm planning to survive one."