Kai received the latest report calmly and confirmed that time was on their side. There was indeed no need to rush into conflict against the dying A.I. Base...
Even if there was a strange man using puppets to attack the base, he didn’t care.
Instead, he chose patience.
Haven‑45 had endured much already, and now it was time to consolidate their strength. He made it clear to everyone...
If you want food, ammunition, or supplies, you must work for it. No one was exempt!
The survivors took his words seriously. Throughout the following days, Haven‑45 was filled with activity. Some cleaned debris from the tunnels, others repaired damaged walls and reinforced barricades.
Aurora tended to the peanut crops with her Talent, while Irene and the other nurses checked on the wounded. Everyone helped each other, even with the simplest tasks like carrying buckets of water or sorting scrap metal.
Everyone contributed, no matter how small the task.
Kai watched this all with satisfaction. The shelter was becoming more organized, more disciplined, despite their current situation.
He knew that survival wasn’t just about fighting the Mechanical Soldier after all. He knew that it was also about building a community that could trust each other.
***
One night, after a long day of overseeing repairs and ration distribution, Kai retreated to his tent.
He turned on his battery‑powered lantern. It gave a soft glow that illuminated the worn pages of a Survival Guide book he had taken from the Entertainment Gift Pack.
Reading was one of the few luxuries he allowed himself. It was a way to keep his mind sharp and escape the constant weight of leadership.
As he flipped through the pages, he sensed movement outside.
"Hmm?"
He set the book aside and focused his Keen Senses on the figure outside...
But the footsteps were light and it even seemed hesitant.
Without a doubt, it was not the scouts returning with urgent news...
’I guess we’re not under attack.’ Kai wryly smiled as he really thought that there was an emergency..
Instead, a female figure just lingered just beyond the tent flap.
"Kai... Can I talk to you?"
The voice was soft sounded uncertain. However, Kai recognized it immediately.
It was Samantha, one of the rescued survivors from Haven‑40, the shelter that had failed its Mech Siege Event.
Kai frowned slightly.
Samantha wasn’t someone who usually sought him out. If he remembered correctly, she had been a high‑school teacher back on Earth.
Her Talent was Rare Rank, called Purifier.
She could cleanse water, making it safe to drink. She had even tried it on a rusty nail once, and it had removed the rust entirely.
Of course, it could not heal any injuries whatsoever...
Kai thought of her ability as more of a "cleanser" than a purifier. It was very useful but not particularly powerful compared to combat‑oriented Talents.
Still, she had survived, and that meant something.
Kai was curious why she was here now, in the middle of the night.
"Come in," he said, gesturing for her to enter.
Samantha stepped inside, her face was pale but determined. She sat across from him, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
"Kai... I want to make you an offer," she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "An offer?"
She nodded. "I’ll give myself to you. I don’t care what you ask of me. I just... I need a weapon, food, and supplies."
Kai’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this. "What are you talking about, Samantha?"
Her gaze met his, and she looked really distressed...
Kai noticed this and confirmed that there was indeed no lust in her eyes. It seemed that she was just getting desperate for some reason.
Thankfully, she immediately explained her situation.
"I want to leave Haven‑45. I need to search for someone... my boyfriend. We were separated when we both selected the A.I. Apocalypse. We arrived here, but not in the same shelter. I know he’s out there, somewhere. I have to find him."
Kai leaned back, stunned by her words. He had seen desperation before, but this was different. She was willing to risk everything, even her dignity, for the chance to reunite with someone she loved.
"Samantha," he said slowly, "do you understand what you’re asking? The world outside is chaos. The Sentinels are everywhere. Those soldiers were even one of the weakest out there... Even with a weapon, food, and supplies, the chances of survival alone are slim. You’ll be throwing your life away."
Her lips trembled, but she shook her head. "I don’t care. I can’t stay here, pretending everything is fine, while he might be suffering. I have to try."
Kai’s expression hardened. "And you think offering yourself to me will get you what you want? That’s not how Haven‑45 works. Everyone earns their share through work, not through... this."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she held her ground.
"I don’t have anything else to offer. My Talent isn’t strong. I’m not a fighter. I’m just... me. But I can’t give up on him. Please, Kai. Just give me a chance." As she said this, she already started undressing.
Kai quickly stopped her and sighed deeply, while rubbing his temples. He understood her pain, but he couldn’t condone her plan.
"Stop... Samantha, listen to me. Your Talent may not be flashy or useful in combat, but it’s valuable. Clean water is essential. Maybe removing rust is also good. That’s very useful in lots of scenarios... You belong here, with the people who need you. Running off into the wasteland will only get you killed."
She shook her head stubbornly. "Then let me die trying. At least I’ll know I didn’t abandon him."
Kai’s voice grew firm. "No. I won’t allow it. Haven‑45 needs every survivor we have. You’re not expendable. And if your boyfriend is alive, the best way to find him is to strengthen this shelter, not weaken it by leaving... I’m sure he doesn’t want you be in danger."