Chapter 04

By four o’clock the temperature had climbed to 102 degrees Fahrenheit—an unprecedented spike for mid-July.

Emergency sirens wailed faintly in the distance as power substations struggled under the load of thousands of air conditioners running at full capacity. News alerts flashed across every phone screen:

[WEATHER ALERT: UNUSUAL HEAT DOME CAUSES RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES. CITIZENS ADVISED TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY. SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS EXPERIENCING ROLLING BROWN-OUTS.]

I took a taxi to the industrial district on the east side of the city. Even with the windows cracked, the air inside the cab felt thick and stale. The driver kept muttering under his breath about the weather and the traffic lights that had started flickering.

Apex Medical & Wholesale Supplies occupied a large warehouse that supplied regional clinics and private emergency units. The parking lot was half-empty. Inside, the air-conditioning labored loudly, and the lights overhead flickered twice while I waited at the counter.

A young clerk in a sweat-dampened blue polo looked up. “We’re running on backup power. If you’re looking for portable fans or cooling packs, we’re completely sold out.”

“I don’t need fans,” I said, placing my clipboard on the counter. “I need bulk medical supplies and long-shelf-life nutritional preserves.”

He wiped his forehead. “Bulk is possible, but a lot of our high-demand items are already low because clinics started ordering extra this week. What exactly do you need?”

I listed the items calmly: sterile gauze, broad-spectrum antibiotics, burn ointment, trauma suture kits, rehydration salts, and two tons of medical-grade protein powder concentrate.

His expression shifted from tired to wary. “Two tons of protein powder and that volume of antibiotics? That’s not a normal research order. I’ll need to check with the floor manager, and some of the burn ointment is already allocated.”

“I’m organizing a remote medical research expedition for the university,” I said, sliding my faculty business card across the counter. “I’ll pay a premium for priority packing and same-day loading. Moisture-proof drums. Delivered to my valley warehouse by eight tomorrow morning.”

The clerk hesitated, then disappeared into the back. Ten minutes later he returned with a heavyset manager who looked me over carefully.

“We can fill most of the order,” the manager said, “but the full quantity of burn ointment and one lot of the antibiotics will cost more because we’re pulling from reserve stock. And with the heat affecting our refrigeration units, I can only guarantee the protein powder if we load it within the next ninety minutes. After that the temperature in the warehouse is going to be a problem.”

“How much more?”

“Total comes to fifty-eight thousand if you want everything sealed and on a truck today.”

I didn’t argue. “Done. Load it.”

They moved quickly after that. The heat inside the warehouse was already oppressive; workers wore sweat-soaked shirts and kept stopping to drink water. By the time the last crate was secured in the rented transport truck, my own clothes were sticking to my back and the digital thermometer on the loading dock read 104 degrees.

I drove the truck to a quiet alley at the edge of the industrial park, locked the doors, and climbed into the cargo bed. The air inside was stifling. I laid both hands against the heavy crates and closed my eyes.

“Store.”

[ACTIVATING SPATIAL STORAGE…]

[PROCESSING: 5 TONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES & HIGH-PROTEIN PRESERVES]

A golden wave swept through the cargo hold. Every crate vanished, settling with precise order inside my dimensional space.

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]

[DAILY QUEST: FOUNDATION OF THE OASIS — 100% COMPLETED]

[REWARDS ISSUED]

• DIMENSIONAL FARMING SPACE UPGRADED TO LEVEL 2

 – Fertile land expanded to 1,000 square meters

 – Crop growth speed increased ×5

• UNLOCKED: SPIRITUAL SPRING VAULT

 – 500 litre of extreme-heat-tolerance water produced

• UNLOCKED: AUTOMATED IRRIGATION NETWORK

Cool energy rushed through my chest, sharp and clean against the residual heat of the real world.

I stepped into the upgraded space. The once-modest plot had become a wide field of rich black earth under a soft, glowing sky. In the center stood a crystal-clear stone basin filled with shimmering water that radiated quiet vitality.

I knelt beside the Spiritual Spring and filled a small glass flask. One drop of this water infused into my master heat-resistant seeds would let them sprout in less than a day and survive temperatures that would kill ordinary crops. More importantly, measured doses given to Mom could strengthen her heart and joints before the true heat arrived.

I stayed there longer than I needed to, letting the cool air of the space settle the tension in my shoulders. Outside, the world was already beginning to crack. In here, I was building something that could endure.

When I finally returned to the real world, the alley was still and the heat pressed against the truck like a physical weight. My phone rang.

Arthur’s name lit the screen.

“Young!” His voice was bright, almost giddy. “Where are you? I told my mom about the townhouse deed. She was so happy she actually cried. She wants us all to go to that luxury steakhouse downtown tonight to celebrate. They’re holding a private table.”

I looked down at the tax-buyout receipt still folded in my bag.

“A luxury steakhouse?” My voice came out smooth and almost warm. “That sounds lovely. You and your mother should order the most expensive items on the menu. Don’t hold back.”

He laughed. “You’re really not coming? Come on, Young. It’s a celebration.”

“I have to finish an important seed transfer at the lab. It can’t wait.” I let a small, cold smile touch my lips even though he couldn’t see it. “Enjoy your dinner, Arthur. Enjoy every single bite… while you still can.”

There was a brief pause on the other end, as if he almost heard something in my tone. Then he chuckled again, dismissing it.

“Alright, alright. Don’t work too late. Love you.”

I ended the call without answering.

Outside the truck, the sky had taken on a brassy, overheated color. Somewhere in the distance another set of emergency sirens began to wail.

I started the engine and drove toward the valley.