Chapter 32: Stockpiling and recruiting

While Valentina was off on her sexcapades, Ember and Aiden were thinking about stockpiling and recruiting.

It’s been two days since the incident, and Valentina seems to have disappeared from their lives. They weren’t particularly concerned. They figure out she was the one who caused the fire, wanting to lure them out.

She got her wish; unfortunately, neither of them ended up getting injured.

It was morning, and Ember was lying on the couch, looking at the (Covenant Engine)CE interface.

Aiden sat on the couch beside her, “What are you daydreaming about?”

Ember turned her head slightly, glancing at him, “I’m not daydreaming. I’m using the CE.” She rolled over onto her stomach. “I’m looking at the stuff we have in the space now. We definitely need more than this. I don’t know how long doomsday will last.”

“It’s not enough,” Aiden stated. “If we’re going to build a base, like you said, we need a lot more.”

As if on cue, Ember heard the system chime.

[Covenant of Provision: The foundation]

[To survive the coming storm, you must prepare. This is a list for you to complete your foundation.]

[Stockpile manifest]

[Sustenance and Agriculture:…]

[Medical & Sanitation:…]

[Tools & Engineering…]

[Power & Technology:…]

[Security & Defense:…]

[Knowledge & Social Cohesion:…]

Ember looked at the list of things the CE recommended. She was confused to see some of the things on the list. She knew the base didn’t need a lot of these things, so she asked the CE.

Do I really need all these things? I thought the base didn’t need these.

[Many of the things on the list are unusable within the base. But what if you want to use it outside? You don’t think crossbows when you’re outside the base make sense?]

Ember couldn’t argue with the logic. The CE was right. She should prepare for any eventuality. She remembered that when she had the system, she wanted to do it herself instead of spending LE. Now she has the CE; she shouldn’t be lazy.

[You can also buy these things for The Forge.]

Ember declined. She thought she might as well buy things outside because once doomsday starts, it will all be a pile of waste paper.

Ember told Aiden about the list the CE gave her. He told her he would have someone look into it.

Sitting up, Ember said, “Now that we’ve sorted that out, how about we start recruiting?”

Aiden wrapped her in a hug. “Who do you want to start with?”

“Adrienne and her husband,” Ember said immediately.

“Why do you want to start with them?” Aiden asked, eyebrow arched.

“If you told Ivan, ’hey, I’m making a place you can fuck beauties all day’, what do you think he would say?”

Aiden laughed, “Okay, I get it. Adrienne first, then.”

Aiden made the call. He was professional as he asked her to come to his home for a business meeting. He also asked that she bring her husband with her. He asked her to arrive at noon so they could have lunch before they talked.

It was already after nine, so they had three hours to draft what they wanted to say and make it convincing.

At around ten, when they were wondering whether to introduce the CE to them, a booming voice walked through the door. Who else could it be but Ivan?

“Aiden, little sister! Just the people I wanted to see!” His voice carried through the house, his happiness almost made him glow.

Aiden watched him, grinning like a fool. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s the best day of my life! That bastard Viktor just had his island covered in molten lava,” Ivan said, a wicked glint in his eye.

“Lava?” Ember asked.

“Yup. A volcano spewed all over his island. He bought the island, branding it as a resort, but early this morning it went up in flames.” Ivan’s maniacal laughter echoed in the house.

Aiden shook his head, “You’d better hope your island doesn’t go up in flames.”

“Hey! Can’t you wish me happiness? You want tragedy to strike me. Do you think I’m that fucker Viktor?” Even though he was cursing, it was evident that Aiden’s comment didn’t dampen his mood.

Ivan and Viktor used to be two peas in a pod, until Viktor did the unforgivable. Ivan used to be a family man. He had a wife until he found her and Viktor fucking in his bed. Since then, Ivan hasn’t given his heart to anyone.

Ivan kept talking about how glorious and beautiful the day was when Ember remembered.

She jumped up from her seat, catching Ivan and Aiden’s attention.

“What’s wrong?” Aiden asked.

“That’s the volcano I told you about! When I told you there was going to be a volcano on an island. Because of everything that happened, I forgot to remind you,” Ember said.

Aiden reached for her, “It’s fine. Don’t I know now? I already know what’s happening.”

Ember pouted, “But I wanted to use it to convince them. I didn’t even realize it had already been a week.”

Ivan listened to the conversation, unsure of what they were talking about.

“What are you two rambling on about? How could you know the volcano was going to erupt?” Ivan said, sprawled on the couch.

Aiden and Ember made brief eye contact. Ivan noticed.

He sat up, straightening his back, “Come on! What aren’t you telling me?”

The couple exchanged glances again.

“Before I say anything, let me ask you a question. If there was a place you could go that would allow you to fuck almost any woman you want, but you weren’t allowed to leave, would you go?”

“No,” Ivan said bluntly. “Sounds too good to be true.”

Ember’s mouth opened. She thought Ivan would have a problem with not being able to leave. It seems his problem was that no such place would exist. Ember shook her head, wondering how far gone Ivan was.

She watched him sprawl on the couch again. She could see he was thinking about whether such a place could exist. Ember hit Aiden on the shoulder, indicating for him to talk to Ivan.

Aiden grabbed her hand, kissing the knuckles.

“Since you’re here, stay for lunch. We have some people coming over. I don’t feel like going over everything again, so let’s wait until they get here.” Aiden hugged Ember, sitting on the couch with her leaning on his body.

Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “Do people coming here have something to do with the sex place you told me about? Did you build it?” His eyes looked at Aiden, genuinely curious.

“Shut up and don’t ask. You’ll know after lunch,” Aiden shot him a look.

The grin that had just died came back to life. Ivan sat there grinning. Everyone in the room knew what he was thinking about. And Ember could help, shaking her head as she saw his joy.

Ember didn’t whisper as she spoke to Aiden, “Are you sure you want this guy involved?”

Aiden chuckled. He flicked a look at Ivan. He looked stupid with the big grin on his face. But Aiden knew he was a man who was loyal to the people he cared about. He was only six years older than Aiden, and despite his numerous affairs, the man had good instincts.

Being able to become his friend was a blessing.

“I know he looks like an idiot, but he’s actually really smart, Aiden smiled as he said it.

“Oi. I can hear you.” Ivan remarked.

“I know, but you have to admit, I’m kind of right.”

Aiden and Ivan bantered as Ember went back to check the CE.

She was glad Aiden had a friend he felt he could trust.

Unlike her. Since coming here, she hasn’t heard from anyone.

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