Qian Wei did not realize she had spent the entire night researching until she checked the time.
Morning had already arrived.
She stepped outside as the first rays of sunlight spread across the neighborhood. The air carried the scent of freshly watered lawns and blooming flowers, while birds called from the trees lining the street.
Several elderly residents were taking their morning walks. A young couple passed the villa with a sleepy child between them, and the little girl laughed when her father lifted her onto his shoulders.
Everything looked peaceful.
Qian Wei remained near the gate for a moment as she watched them.
Three months.
That was how much time they had left before the apocalypse began. If the original future remained unchanged, these quiet streets would disappear. Children would no longer laugh on their way home, and families would stop worrying about ordinary things such as work, school and breakfast.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
She did not know how one rookie police officer could alter humanity’s fate, but doing nothing was not an option.
"I don’t know how I will change the future yet, but I promise I will try," she murmured before stepping onto the pavement.
Her first destination was not the warehouse.
It was the bank.
Although she had checked her balance at home, she still needed to understand how the financial system worked. It would be embarrassing to negotiate for a warehouse and discover that she did not know how to make a payment.
The bank no longer had tellers seated behind counters. A circular reception area occupied the center of the lobby, while several intelligent terminals floated quietly nearby.
As soon as Qian Wei entered, a smiling holographic assistant appeared.
"Good morning, Officer Qian Wei. The bank has verified your identity, so you may proceed with any personal transaction whenever you are ready."
Qian Wei maintained a calm expression, although the instant identification surprised her. "You recognized me before I presented any documents. What information did you use to confirm my identity?"
"The security system matched your biological signature with the records connected to your account. No one else can hear or view this conversation because a privacy barrier has already formed around us."
Qian Wei glanced around and noticed a faint distortion separating her from the rest of the lobby.
"That is convenient, but what happens if someone steals another person’s biological information?"
"The system requires several living responses that cannot be reproduced by ordinary means. If any result appears suspicious, the account will be locked until a human investigator completes an assessment."
At least thieves had not disappeared simply because technology had advanced.
Qian Wei spent nearly twenty minutes asking questions about transfers, payments, credit and property transactions. She presented everything as curiosity following her recent hospitalization, and the assistant answered without showing suspicion.
By the time she left, she had confirmed one important truth.
Money still mattered.
Her savings were considerable for someone her age, but they would not cover everything needed for an apocalypse. Food, water, medicine, tools, backup power, protective equipment and communication devices would consume money quickly.
"I need another legal source of income," she murmured while walking away from the bank. "Unfortunately, preventing human extinction probably does not come with a salary."
The system remained silent.
By noon, Qian Wei had visited three property agencies. The first specialized in residential houses, while the second only handled shops and offices. The third managed independent storage facilities.
A neatly dressed woman welcomed her and invited her to sit.
"Are you searching for temporary storage, or would you prefer a long-term lease?" the agent asked.
"I would like a long-term lease, although I may consider buying the property later if it meets my needs."
"That will give us several options. Could you tell me what you intend to store so I can recommend a suitable security system?"
Qian Wei had prepared an answer. "I have accumulated training equipment and personal belongings that no longer fit in my home. I also need enough space to organize everything without disturbing the neighbors."
The agent nodded without questioning her further. "In that case, a private warehouse would suit you better than a shared storage facility. Let me show you what is currently available."
A three-dimensional map appeared above the desk.
"We have twelve warehouses within the city. The smallest measures sixty square meters, while the largest is slightly above two hundred. Some are located within commercial compounds, but four are independent."
Qian Wei examined the locations.
One warehouse in an old industrial district attracted her attention. It was not the largest or cheapest option, but it stood apart from the surrounding buildings and possessed underground vehicle access. No residential areas were nearby, which reduced the likelihood of civilians wandering close after the apocalypse.
"This warehouse seems suitable," Qian Wei said as she enlarged its information. "How quickly could I begin using it?"
"You could receive access today after completing the lease. However, I would advise inspecting the building first because it is older than the other available properties."
Qian Wei checked the mission timer. "Could we complete the lease at the property after I inspect it? If the building matches these records, I would like to take possession immediately."
The agent smiled. "That would be possible. You are certainly more decisive than most of my clients."
"I may have spent too long thinking about it before coming here."
Less than an hour later, Qian Wei stood inside the warehouse.
Dust floated through the sunlight entering from narrow windows near the ceiling. The building had a concrete floor, reinforced walls and a heavy security door. Its underground entrance led to a loading area large enough for delivery vehicles.
It was exactly what she needed.
Qian Wei walked around the interior while deciding where she could place food, medicine and other supplies. Near the back, she discovered a maintenance room measuring approximately twenty square meters.
If reinforced and furnished, it could become an emergency shelter.
She had initially planned to rent the property until the apocalypse began, but now she considered purchasing it. A secure location outside the residential districts could remain useful even after she revealed the approaching disaster to the authorities.
Ding!
[Beginner Mission completed.]
[Safe storage established.]
[Reward issued: Basic Inventory Function.]
A new icon appeared beside the system panel.
Qian Wei opened it and found ten empty slots. Instead of showing a weight limit, each slot displayed spatial dimensions.
She noticed an abandoned metal toolbox near the wall and picked it up.
"Place this inside the inventory."
The toolbox disappeared from her hands.
An image appeared inside the first slot.
Qian Wei looked at the empty space where it had been. "Return the toolbox."
It reappeared on the floor.
A smile spread across her face.
Transportation had always been one of the greatest difficulties in apocalypse novels. Large deliveries attracted attention, while moving supplies after society collapsed would be dangerous.
With the inventory, Qian Wei could transfer items without anyone knowing where they had gone.
Another notification appeared.
[Inventory capacity: Ten slots.]
[Current usage: One of ten.]
[Capacity may be expanded.]
Her excitement faded slightly. "I knew there would be a limitation. How much can each slot hold?"
[One type of item may occupy each slot until its allocated spatial capacity is reached.]
"How can I expand the inventory?"
[Complete missions and increase System level.]
That answer was more useful than she expected.
Qian Wei stored and retrieved the toolbox several more times until she could use the function without speaking aloud. Once satisfied, she returned it to its original position and left the warehouse.
Two streets away, a black vehicle remained parked beside an empty building.
A man and a younger woman sat inside. Neither wore a police uniform.
A transparent display between them showed Qian Wei’s movements since she awakened in the hospital, including her visit to the bank, the three property agencies and the warehouse.
The young woman studied the report. "This is the fourth unusual decision she has made since regaining consciousness. Zhang Ren said that she forgot recent events and behaved as though she had never seen ordinary technology before."
The older man continued examining Qian Wei’s image. "Did she mention Apartment 3-17 to anyone?"
"She hasn’t said the address aloud, but the anomaly records confirm that she was connected to the apartment before the temporal signal disappeared three hundred years ago."
"Were there any unusual findings during her medical examination?"
"The official report claims that she was physically healthy, but some results were removed before the doctor received them." The woman enlarged an encrypted file and continued, "Her body temperature fell by three degrees after she awakened, while her heartbeat slowed to a level that should have triggered an emergency response. Both returned closer to normal before she was discharged."
The older man’s expression became serious. "What did the station observe?"
"Zhang Ren reported memory loss and several unexplained changes in her behavior. He believes the previous data-terrorism case may be responsible, so the station intends to arrange another medical evaluation."
"That explanation may protect her temporarily, but it will not satisfy anyone if the changes continue."
"Should we approach her before the police begin investigating?"
The older man considered the question before shaking his head. "We have waited nearly three centuries for the temporal anomaly to become active again. If we interfere before understanding what happened, she may hide or disappear."
"Then how closely should we follow her?"
"Continue observing from a distance, but no one should enter her home or interfere with her decisions. If she is truly connected to what happened inside Apartment 3-17, her next actions may finally give us the answers Project Dawn has been waiting for."
The young woman nodded. "I will inform the observation team, but what should we do if another group attempts to reach her first?"
The man’s eyes narrowed. "Protect her without revealing yourselves. Until we understand why she appeared, no one is permitted to take her."
The vehicle pulled away quietly.
Several streets away, Qian Wei stopped walking.
A faint uneasiness passed through her, similar to the feeling she had experienced before entering Apartment 3-17. She turned and searched the street.
People moved along the pavement, delivery vehicles passed through an intersection, and nothing appeared suspicious.
"I must be becoming too distrustful," she murmured.
[Heightened caution improves survival probability.]
"That does not mean I should suspect every parked vehicle."
[Host was recently observed.]
Qian Wei stopped again. "Who was watching me?"
[Insufficient information.]
She looked toward the surrounding buildings, but the black vehicle had already disappeared.
Qian Wei continued toward her next destination, unaware that every movement she made had been recorded since she awakened.
Deep beneath the city, an organization that had survived in secrecy for nearly three centuries opened a new classified file.
The title contained only her name.
Qian Wei.