Giving them a warning was the most she was willing to do. As for whether they listened, that was entirely on them.
She paid extra, so the workers put their backs into it. In just one day, they finished fortifying her apartment.
She had the locks changed to a type that could supposedly withstand a bomb blast. The internal mechanism was incredibly complex; the average locksmith wouldn't be able to pick it.
She also installed an automatic sensor alarm on the lock, which would immediately sound if anyone tried to force it open from the outside.
On top of that, she added a significant amount of insulation inside. This way, when the blizzard arrived and the temperature plummeted, her apartment wouldn't get too cold. She had also reinforced the windows and roof. Now, short of the entire building collapsing, no one could force their way into her apartment.
With another task checked off the list, Stella Sterling breathed a sigh of relief. The basics were in place. Next, she needed to procure weapons and supplies to protect against the cold, frostbite, and pests.
After supervising the renovations all day, she tidied up her apartment and was finally able to sit down and properly catch her breath.
The TV was broadcasting news of disasters happening in various places, along with reports on how many supplies citizens had donated and how much money corporations had given.
It was clear that the amounts being reported were much lower than in the past.
Disasters had become more frequent over the past two years, and many regions were struggling just to take care of themselves. The more often disasters struck, the smaller the donations became.
As Stella Sterling watched, she suddenly remembered the lottery ticket she had bought and quickly pulled it out to check.
Though she had never won before, she was hopeful every time she checked.
"Five... five... five... a match! It's really a match!"
When the very last number matched, Stella Sterling cried out in excitement. She had actually won. Over thirty million! After taxes, she would still be left with more than twenty million. This was enough to get a lot more done.
After factoring in her recent expenses, once she added the lottery winnings to her remaining savings, she would have around eighty million in total.
"Hello, is this Miss Sterling?" The voice on the other end of the line was hoarse. Stella Sterling glanced at the caller ID, and her heart gave a little jolt.
"Yes, speaking."
"That shipment you wanted? We got it. Tonight at twelve, we'll meet at location XX outside the city."
The person on the other end stated a location and then hung up.
Stella Sterling's heart pounded with excitement. 'The pharmaceutical contact I met earlier… he promised he'd help me get a shipment of special medication. Now he's calling for a meet-up. It looks like the medicine is finally within reach.'
She checked the time. It was a little after ten at night. She had more than an hour to get there before midnight. She could make it.
Stella Sterling quickly threw on a jacket, left the apartment, and started driving toward the location they had specified.
「11:45 PM」
She arrived at the destination and got out of her car. It was a desolate wasteland, rarely traveled by anyone during the day and completely deserted at night. It was pitch-black, without a single streetlight or security camera in sight. 'If someone wanted to commit murder or arson,' she thought, 'this would be the perfect spot.'
'Though considering the nature of their deal, it's only natural for them to be cautious and choose a location like this.'
Still, Stella Sterling remained on high alert.
She took out her phone and dialed the man's number. Following his directions, she made her way to the mouth of a cave.
In the distance, she heard the sound of several people talking. She paused for a moment before stepping forward. "Sorry to keep you waiting."