Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

"Minister Caldwell, you’re so certain there’s no sun poison. Do you think you know more about experimental testing than the base’s researchers?" Liam Sterling shot back bluntly.

"Liam Sterling, you’re just an assistant. You should stick to your duties. It’s not your place to interrupt when the management is speaking. And don’t forget, the food factory is under my control."

"Since when was the food factory under your control? Minister Caldwell, you’re just a minister, not the director." Liam Sterling pulled a work badge from his pocket and hung it on his chest. On it, the words "Liam Sterling, Director of the Base Food Factory" were clearly written in large letters.

Minister Caldwell looked like a rooster with its neck being squeezed. He glared at Liam Sterling and spat through clenched teeth, "Liam Sterling, are you trying to usurp my authority?"

"You must be joking, Minister Caldwell. You’ve never had any real power, so how could I possibly usurp it? This is a military base, not a farmer’s market. If you don’t want to be here, you’re free to pack your things and leave."

As soon as Liam Sterling finished speaking, the conference room door opened. Two soldiers in uniform, carrying guns, walked in and stood behind Minister Caldwell.

The color drained from Minister Caldwell’s face. "Rhys Chase, are you just going to stand there and watch Liam Sterling run amok? He’s just a lowly assistant, and now he dares to walk all over me!"

Rhys Chase glanced lazily at Minister Caldwell. "I allowed it. You have a problem with that?"

All the weapons and food supplies in the base were in Rhys Chase’s hands. Even the Undercity belonged to him. The other members of the management were like timid quails, all lowering their heads, not daring to utter another word of protest.

"If Commander Gordon Denton hadn’t given you this position back then, you never would have gotten it! Rhys Chase, you’re just a despicable snake who got here through backroom deals! This is an official base, not your personal stage for fame and fortune!"

Rhys Chase started to clap. "Well said. Everyone should remember Minister Caldwell’s words. This is an official base, and there are hundreds of thousands of soldiers here. If anyone tries to pull any tricks, then I’ll have no choice but to clean house on behalf of the officials."

Minister Caldwell’s face turned livid with rage. Rhys Chase watched him with a gentle expression. "If you don’t wish to continue the meeting, Minister, I can have someone escort you home."

Hearing this, the two soldiers behind him moved to grab him. Minister Caldwell panicked. "Who said I’m not attending the meeting? I’m not leaving."

"Then you need to learn to shut your mouth."

Rhys Chase’s gaze flickered for a moment. He glanced at the others and said leisurely, "After all, whoever holds the weapons calls the shots."

"The Commander is right. We’ll all remember that."

"Rest assured, Commander. I will personally ensure the meteorology department monitors the weather conditions around the clock. If any sun poison is detected, I will report to you immediately."

"The situation at our pig farm is currently stable. We haven’t found any pigs that are sick or behaving abnormally."

"At our chicken farm..."

Rhys Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. After listening to everyone’s reports, he dismissed them. Soon, only he, Liam Sterling, and Ryan Rowe remained in the conference room. Ryan Rowe sat silently to one side, while Liam took off his work badge and gleefully tucked it into his pocket.

"Mr. Chase, I almost gave Harry Caldwell a heart attack back there. It felt so damn good! That son of a bitch is always so passive-aggressive. I’ve been putting up with him for years. I don’t know what kind of plastic he’s been eating, but a few years ago he was so thin and weak, and now he’s as fat as a pig."

"He took over that old alligator pond," Rhys Chase said flatly.

"Wasn’t the alligator pond destroyed? Besides, he wasn’t even close with Director Langley, the guy who used to raise the gators."

The base had numerous factories, covering everything from heavy to light industry. The alligator pond, which had been wrecked twice by Ronan Kendrick and Ethan Dawson, had been secretly built by Director Langley of the clothing factory.

"After Leon Langley died, his sister-in-law went to Harry Caldwell for protection. That woman has a real knack for raising alligators and venomous snakes. Although Leon built the original pond, she was the one who actually raised the creatures. Now, Harry Caldwell has taken her in, and he’s started raising alligators and venomous snakes too."

Liam Sterling was stunned. "So, the reason Harry Caldwell got so fat is because he’s been eating alligator meat."

Rhys Chase shook his head. "To be precise, they only consume the alligator eggs, snake eggs, alligator blood, and snake blood."

Liam Sterling looked like he was about to be sick. ’No wonder I smelled something foul on Harry Caldwell earlier.’ That bastard would eat anything.

"Mr. Chase, this Harry Caldwell... aren’t we going to do something about him?"

"His steps are unsteady and his eyes are clouded. He won’t live much longer," Ryan Rowe said, then looked up at Rhys Chase. "That woman, on the other hand, is a dangerous person."

"Mr. Chase, she was the one who came up with the idea of feeding the alligators with dead bodies."

"Ryan, you knew about this too? So I’m the only one who was out of the loop? You two have secrets you’re not telling me," Liam Sterling said, finally realizing and getting upset.

Ryan Rowe shrugged. "It’s not that we weren’t telling you. It was just a minor detail. Besides, aren’t you always busy?"

"Am I so busy that I don’t even have time to hear about something like this?"

Rhys Chase rubbed his temples. "Why don’t you two take this argument outside?"

Both of them shut their mouths at once. Rhys Chase glanced at them and pulled out a report.

"This is the latest report from the research team. They’ve confirmed that there is indeed sun poison in the sunlight. The peak period is likely between noon and five in the afternoon. Have the base broadcast another announcement: any resident not wearing a heat-resistant suit and sunglasses is temporarily forbidden from going outside."

Liam Sterling and Ryan Rowe immediately stood up.

"Yes, sir."

After they left, Rhys Chase picked up the report and read it again. Besides the analysis of the sunlight, there was another report next to it on signs of tectonic plate movement.

—

「At one in the afternoon.」

The base broadcast crackled to life again. The announcer once again reminded residents not to go outside, emphasizing the times when the sun poison would be active. It would appear during the afternoon, when the sunlight hit the ground most directly. The base would issue each resident a lightweight, heat-resistant suit and a pair of sunglasses. Each person would receive one set, and they could not be replaced if lost.

Inside the living room of Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick’s dorm, everyone had gathered. Evelyn brought out a box and officially placed it in front of Zoe.

"Alright family, bear witness! Zoe’s prediction came true, so on behalf of everyone, I’m giving her this box containing all of our bets."

Quincy stood to the side, recording with his phone. Zoe was grinning from ear to ear, absolutely ecstatic. She hadn’t expected Evelyn to gather everyone just to present the prize to her in front of them all.

Children have a sense of honor, too. In that moment, Zoe felt incredibly proud of herself. She puffed out her little tummy and took the box from Evelyn’s hands with a proud and spirited air.

"Thank you, Auntie! Thank you, everyone! And thank you, little birdies!"

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Well-behaved, clever little human cubs are just so adorable.

"Congratulations, Zoe! Way to go, Zoe! You’re the best!" Everyone clapped and cheered for her.

Zoe opened the box and carefully took out Ethan Dawson’s gun.

"Miss Wendy, this is for you."

Wendy hadn’t expected Zoe to be so insistent on giving the gift to her. This time, she didn’t refuse, accepting it graciously.

"Thank you, Zoe."

"You’re welcome! We’re good sisters, after all."

Zoe glanced at Evelyn, then lifted the entire box and presented it to her. "Auntie, you can pick whatever you want from the rest."